During the 1980s and 1990s, a moral panic[1] about alleged satanic ritual abuse occurred, mainly in parts of the English-speaking world. This was propagated by certain psychotherapists, social workers, Christian fundamentalists, and law enforcement officials.
Some of the cases ended in prosecution and imprisonment; all but one of those imprisoned have been released.[2] Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have had several incidents of alleged satanic ritual abuse which received national and international news coverage. Other countries have also had isolated events in which abuse or murder took place with satanic ritual elements, including Argentina and Brazil.