Witches Pardon Petition Launched

About 400 people in England and about 2,000 in Scotland were executed in the 16th and 17th centuries following accusations of witchcraft. A national petition has been launched to get royal pardons for those executed.

A national petition has been launched to get royal pardons for those executed in Britain during the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The crime of being a witch was abolished by the 1735 Witchcraft Act but did not grant posthumous pardons.

About 400 people were executed in England following accusations of witchcraft and about 2,000 in Scotland. Read more