UPDATE:

CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE TO THE OBEAH ACT OF 1898

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025: FIRST HEARING

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For over 250 years, practitioners of the Africana Obeah religion in Jamaica have been denied the freedom to fully express their spiritual beliefs. This is due to the Obeah Law, enacted in 1898, which criminalizes practices associated with Obeah. This law, [a revision of clauses in the 1760 Act] born out of colonial fear and control, has silenced generations of spiritual healers, protectors, and practitioners.

Obeah was perceived as a threat to colonial rule, and the law aimed to suppress the power of the Afro-Caribbean people. But this outdated legislation is not just a relic of the past – it continues to perpetuate fear and stigmatization of African spiritual practices, stripping Jamaicans of their right to connect with their cultural and spiritual heritage.

This petition is not about promoting Obeah or forcing others to practice it. This is about justice, religious freedom, and cultural respect. Every Jamaican, regardless of faith, should have the right to practice their spiritual beliefs without fear of prosecution. It is time to break the chains of colonial oppression and allow Jamaicans to embrace their heritage freely.

Jamaica is a country rich in diversity, culture, and resilience. Our history of struggle and triumph should be honored by promoting freedom of spiritual expression for all. By repealing the Obeah Law, we can foster an environment of cultural openness, where all Jamaicans can live without fear of judgment or criminalization for their spiritual beliefs.

Join me in calling for the repeal of the Obeah Law of 1898. Let's unite to ensure that Jamaica stands for the freedom, dignity, and rights of all its people – regardless of their spiritual path. It’s time for change. It’s time for freedom.

Sign this petition and help us reclaim the right to practice our beliefs freely and without fear!

#ReligiousFreedom #CulturalRespect #StandForJustice #freeobeah #repealobeah #obianow

2025:

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/04/25/judge-suggests-bible-reading-man-guilty-practising-obeah/​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTNEm1I05Kc​

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20250513/editorial-obeah-law-nonsense

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https://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/empire-decolonisation/the-racist-history-of-jamaicas-obeah-laws/​

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20190617/pm-brushes-aside-debate-obeah-sexuality-and-abortion​

https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/ajgr/article/view/3325​

https://academia.edu/resource/work/25866274