ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Sulaimani security forces on Saturday announced the arrest of two people accused of fraud and sorcery.
“Security forces arrested two suspects in Halabja province and Bazian district who tried to dupe citizens through sorcery and became a cause of destruction of families and social relationships,” read a statement from the Sulaimani general directorate of security (Asayish).
During the arrest, security forces also seized an unlicensed gun and articles of clothing the statement said were used to cast spells.
In December 2019, the Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry issued a decree prohibiting sorcery, spells, and exorcism. It was acting on a suggestion from the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, which was concerned about charlatans exploiting the people.
A large number of people in the Kurdistan Region believe in sorcery and are vulnerable to fraud artists who make promises of happiness, prosperity, and success in the pursuit of love. Some people have lost large sums of money to the scammers.
If convicted, the two who were arrested could face up to six months in jail and a financial penalty.
