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How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy
October 31 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
On 31 October 2025 we’ll be joined by founders of the ‘Witches of Scotland’ campaign, Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, to talk about their book, ‘How to Kill a Witch, A Guide for the Patriarchy’ .
The book is a compelling and detailed investigation into the historical persecution of women as witches. As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500-1700s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women’s fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning.
Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, a leading human rights lawyer, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world.
About the authors
Leading human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell, KC, and writer, Zoe Venditozzi formed the ‘Witches of Scotland’ campaign with the aim of shining a light on the historic injustice of the Witch Trials. As a result, on International Women’s Day, 2022, the First Minister of Scotland issued a formal state apology – the first time in 300 years there had been any formal recognition of those who were most wrongly accused.
Through their tireless campaigning, regular public appearances, and highly entertaining podcast, also called ‘The Witches of Scotland’, this pair of ‘quarrelsome dames’ are currently working to build a lasting memorial to the accused women, and campaign to draw attention to the continued persecution of women as witches around the world today.
In 2022, Claire and Zoe were made Doctors of Laws by the University of Dundee in 2022 in recognition of their work.
Talk (including glass of wine on arrival): £25
Doors open: 6.30pm
Talk starts: 7.00pm
Q&A: 8.00pm
Book signing: 8.15pm (books will be available to purchase on the night)
Halloween costumes are optional- but there will be a prize for the best dressed!
We are grateful to the following for their generous sponsorship of this event: Aamer Anwar & Co., The Faculty of Advocates, Levy & McRae and Livingstone Brown.
Proceeds from the event will go to Glasgow Women’s Aid.
