Baghdad Police Arrest Suspect Accused of Practicing Witchcraft, Seize 37 Locks

Baghdad Al-Rusafa Police Command announced on Friday the arrest of a man accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery in an area on the Rusafa side of the capital.

According to a statement, a security force from the Third Al-Sadr Police Department and Hay Tariq Police Station carried out the operation, seizing 37 locks bearing the names of several people, along with various materials and tools allegedly used in witchcraft practices.

The suspect was placed in custody at the relevant police center pending the completion of legal procedures against him.

The operation comes as Iraqi security authorities continue to crack down on individuals involved in witchcraft and sorcery amid reported cases of fraud and blackmail associated with such practices. The measures also follow a 2017 Interior Ministry decision ordering the closure of witchcraft and sorcery offices across Baghdad and other provinces and the prosecution of violators.

Specialists attribute the growing reliance on fortune-tellers and sorcerers to a combination of social and economic factors, including declining awareness, worsening living conditions and unemployment, as well as the lasting impact of years of conflict and crises on Iraqi society.