Connecticut Legislature Absolves Those Tried For Witchcraft In 17th Century

On Thursday, the Connecticut legislature gave final passage to House Joint Resolution 34 (full text), formally absolving by name some 34 individuals who were indicted or convicted of witchcraft and familiarities with the devil in the 17th century by courts in the early British colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. The Resolution concludes:

[T]he State of Connecticut apologizes to the descendants of all those who were indicted for the crimes of witchcraft and familiarities with the devil, convicted and executed and for the harm done to the accused persons' posterity to the present day, and acknowledges the trauma and shame that wrongfully continued to affect the families of the accused.

CtMirror reports on the passage of the Resolution. [Thanks to Thomas Rutledge for the lead.]

Massachusetts Law Exonerates Last Convicted Witch

 Section 105 of the Massachusetts FY23 Budget Bill signed by Governor Charlie Baker on July 28 exonerates Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., the last Massachusetts resident who was legally classified as a witch. As reported by Courthouse News Service, Johnson is one of 30 people convicted in Salem witch trials in 1693. All the others have previously been exonerated by the legislature. The exoneration was pushed by an eighth-grade civic teacher in North Andover, Massachusetts where Johnson had lived.

Al-Queda Executes 4 For Witchcraft In Yemen

Al Jazeera reports that in the town of Mayfaa in southeastern Yemen, Al-Queda today distributed and posted flyers saying that the group has killed four local men suspected of witchcraft and sorcery. The handout says in part:

We have implemented Allah's ruling against them, which is the death sentence,  We call upon all Muslims to cooperate with us against this widespread depravity,

Al-Queda controls this area in Yemen.