Woman in Paraguay tied to a wooden pole and burned alive after being accused of witchcraft

A woman in Paraguay has been tied to a wooden pole, shot with arrows, and burned alive after a ‘witch’ claim.

17:33 06 November 2014

45-year-old Adolfina Ocampos, who was accused of being a witch, was allegedly killed by members of the Mbya Guarani indigenous community in Paraguay following sorcery claims against her. She was tied to a wooden pole, shot with arrows, and burned alive.

The UN has condemned report claiming that this is an isolated case. The agency said that thousands of people worldwide are accused of being witches every year. These people are often abused and sometimes killed.

Prosecutor Fany Aguilera said that nine men in the village of Tahehyi have admitted to killing the woman.

Jose Zanardini, an Italian anthropologist and Catholic priest, said: "I've been working in Paraguay for 40 years and I can't remember a similar episode of an execution for alleged sorcery.

"The tragic death of this woman is isolated and out of the ordinary within the coexistence of Paraguay's 20 ethnic indigenous groups.

"In general, the Indians are very peaceful and tolerant."