News: Witch Hunts and Persecution in History and Now

Here is a round-up of recent news stories about historic witch trials and also modern day examples of persecution:

"Scottish evangelists identify Paganism as one of the “biggest threats to Western civilisation” - story at the National Secular Society: http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2015/11/scottish-evangelists-identify-paganism-as-one-of-the-biggest-threats-to-western-civilisation

"The Last Witch Hunter: why modern visions of witches don’t conjure up reality" - story at The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/the-last-witch-hunter-why-modern-visions-of-witches-dont-conjure-up-reality-49862

"Skeleton of Burnt 'Witch Girl' Found in Italy" - story at news.discovery.com: http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/skeleton-of-burnt-witch-girl-found-in-italy-151118.htm

"The Newcastle witch trials of 1650 which saw 15 executed on Town Moor" - story at Chronicle Live: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/newcastle-witch-trials-1650-saw-10455524

"Why the Suffolk witch trials are relevant as ever" - story at Ipswich Star: http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/why_the_suffolk_witch_trials_are_relevant_as_ever_1_4304363

"Why Do Witch Hunts Still Happen?" - story at Smithsonian.com: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-witch-hunts-still-happen-180957106/

The picture shows a poster for the film The Last Witch Hunter, copyright Lionsgate Entertainment.