A video showing two women being dragged through the streets of the Liberian county of Sinoe has sparked public outrage.
The video of the women stripped naked and dragged by young men went viral on social media especially on Facebook.
The incident occurred last year but perpetrators have not been punished yet. The women in the video were assaulted and abused.
The women were alleged to be witches and asked by those abusing them to confess to that.
A third woman involved in the incident is reported to have died due to the abuses she suffered.
Seeking justice for victims
A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Gloria Scott has now launched a campaign to seek justice for the victims.
Scot wants members of parliament in the area where the abuse took place to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Last month, Liberia’s vice president Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor expressed anger at the incident, according to Smart News.
“I am exceedingly shocked by a distasteful video circulating on social media” she said.
Howard-Taylor also said “I want to reaffirm my commitment to the affected women and their families.
I will cross all barriers to ensure that the case is brought to its logical conclusion, sparing no perpetrator, within the confines of the law”.
Police investigations
Meanwhile the Liberian National Police in a post on Faceboom said “seven (7) suspects were arrested on December 12, 2018 in Johnny Town, Kpanyan District, Sinoe County.”
It said the suspects were “charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation and Rioting respectively and forwarded to court for prosecution.”
Angry reactions
But not all Liberians are happy with the way the police and Liberian authorities are handling the issue.
One Liberian wrote on Facebook that “So this thing happened since December and you’re only telling us now because a video leaked about it?”
Another person said “If this incident took place in December, why wasn’t it brought to the attention of the public? These thugs deserve to remain behind bar for good.”
In most parts of Africa women often suffer humiliations and abuses when alleged to be witches.
Some of them are chased out of their communities and lynched. Those rescued for many years are unable to return to their homes.
Punishment for offenders are rare, thereby encouraging such violations to continue.
Source: Africafeeds.com
