Italian authorities are investigating the alleged rape of a young woman by a ring of ‘black magic practitioners.’ Three men were recently arrested in Turin in connection with the rape allegations.

The victim was allegedly raped as part of a ‘cleansing’ ritual, to rid her body of evil spirits. According to reports, a 17-year-old girl was purportedly told to take on the role of a ‘Vestal virgin’. In Roman religion, Vestal virgins were a group of six women who had been hand-picked to hold (1) “unparalleled positions of status” as leading religious figures in Rome.

The men are believed to have manipulated their victim, using props such as esoteric symbols, tarot cards and strange trinkets and charms, as well as making threats.

Black Magic Cult

A report in the (2) Telegraph notes how the ‘black magic’ group was allegedly led by Paolo Meraglia.

Meraglia is 69 years old, a former maths teacher and a self-made ‘sorcerer’. 73-year-old Biagino Viotti was amongst the arrested, who is believed to be a friend of Meraglia. A 22-year-old man is also under investigation, reported to be a friend of the young victim.

The men are accused of putting on séances, which resulted in the alleged rape of the teenager in two different apartments in the city of Turin. It is believed the group told the woman she was possessed by the devil and esoteric rituals involving group sex and drugs could ‘purify’ her of the demonic forces.

It is also believed that the victim, or victims, of the crime were referred to as the ‘Vestal Virgins’, while Meraglia was the ‘Master’ and the other men the ‘Apostles’. The rituals cited during the alleged abused were spoken in Latin and Hebrew.