'Black magicians' continue to prey on residents

Black-magic crimes in the UAE cannot be totally eliminated because the practice is deeply rooted in local society, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Although the country has stepped up its efforts against witchcraft, crimes involving black magic have steadily increased over the past few years and nearly two thirds of the victims are women.

More than 1,220 crimes involving embezzling, stealing and money cloning through so-called magicians were reported last year and nearly 1,320 people involved in these crimes were arrested, the ministry of interior said.

The crimes included 17 cases involving magicians, who claim they can multiply money or transform plain paper into banknotes. A similar number of crimes was reported in 2002.

"Such types of crime are extremely dangerous because they are deeply rooted in our society, heritage and traditions.

"Most of the victims seek spiritual help or are suffering from psychological problems. The bulk of the victims are illiterate or ignorant," said Colonel Mattar Hamad Al Muhairi, Director of the Capital Police Department.

A relative of a national woman who had been duped out of a large sum of money by a so-called magician said she had gone to the magician because she wanted to make quick money and was convinced of his ability to do so.

"After she lost her money, I asked her how she could believe such people when they cannot make money for themselves," Ahmad Katheeri said.

"The problem is that she still believes in magic but not in that man. She said he told her he can make money for himself but does not have enough to buy the necessary chemicals and the incense and other substances needed to contact the spirits.

"She is an old woman and there is no way you can change what she has believed in for ages."

Women are victimised the most.

"It seems that old traditions and superstitions are still prevalent in women's minds," Col Al Muhairi said. "In my opinion, we can only reduce such crimes but not eliminate them altogether because our society has created these practices and we cannot change our society overnight."

Al Muhairi, quoted in Al Shurta, a police magazine, said fighting witchcraft crime is the responsibility of police and many other institutions, including schools, universities and women's associations.

"The police cannot stop people from going to magicians and other individuals who practise black art and witchcraft," he said.

"I believe that education is the best weapon to fight this phenomenon. For example, we should make it clear to those who believe in witchcraft that if those so-called magicians can make money for them, then why don't they make money for themselves."

Quoting studies by the Abu Dhabi Psychiatry Hospital, the magazine said more than 77 per cent of those who have resorted to magicians in the last few years were women.

"Many of them were found to be highly volatile and easily influenced by superstitious or illogical phenomena. We have also found that nearly 75 per cent of those who visit our hospital have been to magicians and witches," said Dr Faisal Mohammad Al Zarad, Director of the clinical psychiatric section at the hospital.