Witch of Kastrati

The Witch of Kastrati (Albanian: Shtriga e Kastratit) is mentioned in connection with the murder of a woman by her husband in the village of Kastrat, Shkodër, Albania, around the year 1895. It is considered the only documented case of the "witch hunting" (persecution) of women in Albanian history.^[1]

The incident was documented by the French consul Alexandre Degrand in his book "Souvenirs de la Haute Albanie" (Memories of Upper Albania). According to Degrand's account, the woman was accused of witchcraft by her husband and subsequently killed by him. The method of murder involved burning her in a wooden tower. Specific details of the accusation and the murder itself remain unclear.^[2]

The story of the Witch of Kastrati serves as a reminder of the dangers of superstitious beliefs and prejudices, which can lead to violence and injustice. It also emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the need to challenge harmful beliefs.^[3]^[4]

References

^ Luan Rama. "Shtrigat e Kastratit - simotra të "Shtrigave të Salemit"". gazeta-shqip.com (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
^ Degrand, Alexandre (1901). Souvenirs de la Haute-Albanie (in French). H. Welter. pp. 292–293. Pendant mon séjour à Scutari, une femme de la tribu de Castrati fut accusée par des gens de sa montagne d'avoir, comme sorcière, causé la mort de différentes personnes de ce clan. Son mari, auquel on alla se plaindre, s'en empara et, l'ayant liée, la porta près d'un brasier, afin de lui faire avouer les actes de sorcellerie dont on l'accusait. Affolée par les atroces souffrances qu'elle ressentait et auxquelles on ne voulait mettre fin qu'après qu'elle aurait tout dit, la pauvre pseudo-sorcière, dont le pouvoir n'était pas assez grand pour lui permettre de s'échapper, finit par se reconnaître coupable des faits qui lui étaient reprochés, avoua qu'un montagnard, mort fort loin en exil, avait eu le cœur mangé par elle et qu'une de ses compagnes l'accompagnait parfois dans ses surnaturelles et nocturnes escapades. L'affaire fit grand bruit, la malheureuse avait été si cruellement brûlée qu'elle ne tarda pas à mourir. [During my stay in Scutari, a woman from the Castrati tribe was accused by people from her mountains of having, as a witch, caused the death of various members of that clan. Her husband, to whom they went to complain, seized her and, having bound her, carried her near a brazier to force her to confess to the acts of witchcraft she was accused of. Driven to madness by the atrocious suffering she endured, and with no end in sight until she confessed everything, the poor pseudo-witch, whose power was not enough to allow her to escape, eventually admitted guilt to the charges against her. She confessed that a mountaineer, who had died far away in exile, had his heart eaten by her, and that one of her companions sometimes joined her in her supernatural and nocturnal escapades. The affair caused a sensation, and the unfortunate woman was so cruelly burned that she soon succumbed to death.]
^ Ismaili, Zeqirja (2020-02-08). "Shtrigat e Kastratit". Ars Albanica (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-03-06.
^ T., D. (2019-02-10). "Shtriga e Kastratit" [Witch of Kastrati]. Defekt-Teknik. Retrieved 2024-03-12.

[1] Luan Rama. "Shtrigat e Kastratit - simotra të "Shtrigave të Salemit"". gazeta-shqip.com (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. Retrieved 2024-03-06.

[2] Degrand, Alexandre (1901). Souvenirs de la Haute-Albanie (in French). H. Welter. pp. 292–293. Pendant mon séjour à Scutari, une femme de la tribu de Castrati fut accusée par des gens de sa montagne d'avoir, comme sorcière, causé la mort de différentes personnes de ce clan. Son mari, auquel on alla se plaindre, s'en empara et, l'ayant liée, la porta près d'un brasier, afin de lui faire avouer les actes de sorcellerie dont on l'accusait. Affolée par les atroces souffrances qu'elle ressentait et auxquelles on ne voulait mettre fin qu'après qu'elle aurait tout dit, la pauvre pseudo-sorcière, dont le pouvoir n'était pas assez grand pour lui permettre de s'échapper, finit par se reconnaître coupable des faits qui lui étaient reprochés, avoua qu'un montagnard, mort fort loin en exil, avait eu le cœur mangé par elle et qu'une de ses compagnes l'accompagnait parfois dans ses surnaturelles et nocturnes escapades. L'affaire fit grand bruit, la malheureuse avait été si cruellement brûlée qu'elle ne tarda pas à mourir. [During my stay in Scutari, a woman from the Castrati tribe was accused by people from her mountains of having, as a witch, caused the death of various members of that clan. Her husband, to whom they went to complain, seized her and, having bound her, carried her near a brazier to force her to confess to the acts of witchcraft she was accused of. Driven to madness by the atrocious suffering she endured, and with no end in sight until she confessed everything, the poor pseudo-witch, whose power was not enough to allow her to escape, eventually admitted guilt to the charges against her. She confessed that a mountaineer, who had died far away in exile, had his heart eaten by her, and that one of her companions sometimes joined her in her supernatural and nocturnal escapades. The affair caused a sensation, and the unfortunate woman was so cruelly burned that she soon succumbed to death.]

[3] Ismaili, Zeqirja (2020-02-08). "Shtrigat e Kastratit". Ars Albanica (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-03-06.

[4] T., D. (2019-02-10). "Shtriga e Kastratit" [Witch of Kastrati]. Defekt-Teknik. Retrieved 2024-03-12.

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