In Catalonia pardoned "witches"

 On social media in Spain, comments continue about the pardoning of women sentenced to death by the regional parliament of Catalonia for witchcraft from the 15th to 18th centuries by the regional parliament of Catalonia.

It is estimated that between 700 and 1,000 women died during the 'witch hunt' in Catalonia at that time.

Many Twitter users criticize the regional government for addressing a distant history rather than current problems such as youth unemployment and child poverty.

The resolution on pardoning those convicted of witchcraft under the slogan "They were not witches, they were women" was presented by the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat) and the People's Unity Candidate (CUP). The decision follows a campaign in the historic magazine "Sapiens" related to the results of research on the widespread "witch hunt" in Catalonia at the time.

The proposal for a symbolic pardon of witches was accepted last Wednesday by all parliamentary groups with the exception of the right-wing PP and Vox. Liberal Ciudadanos abstained. The socialist PSC voted in favor of the resolution, although noting that it did not consider it a priority.

The text calls on the local Catalan authorities to name streets and squares in municipalities with the names of women convicted of witchcraft as part of historical reparations.

History professor Pau Castell of the University of Barcelona pointed out that at the time, admissions by women, often forced by torture, were sufficient to sentence them to death in areas under the absolute rule of feudal lords. Additionally, in Catalonia, found guilty of witchcraft were hung rather than burned at the stake to save on firewood.

"They used to call us witches, now they called us feminazis," commented Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) MEP Jenn Diaz.

According to the right-wing populist Vox, "families need compensation whose children do not have Spanish in Catalan schools". According to the center-right People's Party (PP), the proposal should be discussed in the parliamentary committee on equality, and not presented to the plenary.

Most of the comments on social media refer to the contemporary situation in Catalonia, recognizing the current social and economic problems as a priority for the regional government.