UAE | General

'Magic' trade is big business in region

Ancient inscriptions on stone tablets, animal pelts and claws, talisman dating back to pre-Islamic times - the trade in "magic" is big business across the Middle East and beyond, says the Abu Dhabi Customs Department.

  • By Charles Stratford, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 July 17, 2006
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Ancient inscriptions on stone tablets, animal pelts and claws, talisman dating back to pre-Islamic times - the trade in "magic" is big business across the Middle East and beyond, says the Abu Dhabi Customs Department.

Statistics acquired by Gulf News show that in April and May this year there were 27 seizures of what are described as illegal "magic items" at various points of entry into the emirate.

Only seizures of what the customs statistics call "medicines" from Pakistan come close in quantity over the same period.

While officials say most confiscations are from people carrying them for "personal use", they claim a trade is thriving and occasionally seize objects on their way out of the region.

"Confiscations are made because these things, many which we believe date back to the pre-Islamic times, go against Islamic principles and are illegal," said Abu Dhabi Customs Assistant Undersecretary Abdullah Ebrahim.

Ebrahim said the objects originate from surrounding countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, but many objects come from outside the region, including Africa and East Asia.

Peter Hellyer, a historian with over 30-years experience working in the UAE, said the particularly sensitive nature of the subject meant very little systematic research had been conducted on the practice of witchcraft in the region.

But he said there was a strong underground belief in ancient, animist practices among some people in the Gulf states.

"There is a tradition of belief in magic in much of southern Arabia but very little research has been undertaken into it," he said.

According to Ebrahim, items confiscated by Abu Dhabi customs are usually destroyed without the carrier being charged for trying to bring them into the country.

He said customs inspectors are trained to recognise any object that may have particular cultural significance or historical value.

In Dubai, recent seizures of animal parts by inspectors for The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have included 'big cat' tails and paws as well as teeth, pelts and various types of skulls from Oman and Africa.

"Most of the time these objects are brought in for personal use. But I'm sure a trade exists. If the item is of special interest we hand it over to institutions like museums for public display," said Dr Mohammad Abdul Rahman, a CITES representative.

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