Scotland Moves To Posthumously Pardon 2,500 Women Tortured & Executed As ‘Witches’
A member of Scottish Parliament, Natalie Don, has proposed a posthumous pardon for women who were accused and convicted of witchcraft under a 1563 law. Many of the women deemed “witches” were executed and tortured as a result. The Witchcraft Act was in place for nearly 200 years until 1736. Don said that at least 2,500 women were executed due to the law, and her proposal seeks to ensure these women are “recognized as victims of a miscarriage of justice and are no longer recorded in history as criminals.” Interest in pardoning these victims rose in the past months, with the First Minister of Sc...