Anneliese Michel, a 16-year-old German girl, tragically died in 1976 after enduring a series of exorcism rituals. Diagnosed with epilepsy and severe mental health issues, she was subjected to these harsh religious practices by her parents and two priests, who believed her condition was the result of demonic possession rather than a medical crisis.

Her death underscores the dangerous intersection of religious dogma and the way women’s bodies have historically been judged as "wicked" or "possessed." Anneliese’s story is a stark reminder of how society often silences and condemns women’s suffering, especially when it challenges medical understanding and entrenched gender norms.

During Women's History Month, her story calls us to reflect on the harmful ways women’s bodies are policed and misunderstood.