Sorcery Laws in the UAE

Sorcery and witchcraft activities may sound like fiction these days. In the modern world, people do not believe in black magic or healing powers given by a saint. However, the older generations in the UAE still believe in saints and their healing powers. The United Arab Emirates has developed sorcery laws to avoid fraudulent cases, as these practices are against public morals.

These practices may have emerged from folklore, but the UAE legal system has considered them as a serious criminal offence because they lead to exploitation and deception in people’s rational thinking process. Therefore, one must avoid linkages with people who practice these immoral acts in the UAE.

The sorcery laws in the UAE are created to protect people from fraudulent activities and scams where some people claim themselves sorcerers. They claim to heal the illnesses of people without challenging medical science. These acts manipulate individuals who believe in cultural practices more than religious practices.

·       Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 (UAE Penal Code)

This law validates the criminal activities in the UAE and the penalties imposed on such crimes. Under this law, the sorcery is considered a serious criminal offense. The reason to categories sorcery under this law is that it is deceptive and challenges public morals and religion.

·       Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021

The law has been replaced with the law of 1987. The renewal of criminal law has introduced modern-day’ crimes, including cybercrime and online scams. However, sorcery practices and public moralities are still validated under this law, ensuring everyone is protected from such fraudulent activities and scams. It is easy to understand that when someone is asking for money in exchange for healing illnesses through magical practices, it is against moral practices.

In most cases, sorcery practices are conducted to affect health, relationships, or business results.

·       Physical Offerings

However, these practices have physical offerings, including talismans, amulets, and charms, which have supernatural powers.

·       Power to See the Future

Some saints also claim to see the future, which again misleads the morals of the people, and sorcerers get financial benefits from these activities.

The sorcery laws have strict regulations to ensure individuals are safe from scams and to keep up with good morals. The magicians are imposed with heavy fines and imprisonment in the UAE. If it is an expatriate doing such practices, they may deport them and bar their entry in the UAE again.

The people who claim to be saints and predict futures do it for their financial gain. In the real world, those witchcraft activities are criminalised and do not ensure the moral practices of any religion.

The UAE government is steadfast in applying the sorcery laws in the UAE. If anything is found regarding the sorcery activities, it is immediately destroyed or seized by the government officials.

Moreover, they would penalize people who promote witchcraft activities on the internet or through traditional advertising techniques. The online promotion of illegal activities comes under the cybercrimes, for which the UAE has introduced Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes.

The UAE legal system is smart, yet it ensures protection for expatriates and residents.

·       Security Forces

There are crime investigation departments in every emirate to validate the criminal offense of sorcery acts. Under their jurisdiction, individuals can report the manipulation done at the hands of the fake spiritual healers. Often, public advertisements on streets or through pamphlets are investigated by the crime branch in the emirate.

·       Government Intervention

The Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution are authorized to investigate the crime based on sorcery acts. Both entities work together to punish the offenders and protect individuals from fraud and scams. They are responsible for maintaining the public confidence with their strict rules and regulations.

If you are living in the UAE and see anything related to sorcery, you can take steps to eradicate these scams.

·       Report the Sorcery Act

To protect yourself and others from the scams of sorcery, you must report it to the nearest police station in the UAE. Someone might tell you about their affair with such acts even if they have not tried for you. They can be reported in the UAE, and the crime branch can investigate it further to validate the criminal offense. Never engage with people who claim to be saints or have supernatural powers to resolve your problems.

·       Legal Support Availability

The UAE government is cooperative with its people. If anything is reported at the police station, it is investigated quickly. There is no second thing asked by the person who comes for the report. The criminal lawyers in the UAE can support your report and investigate the matter. They can also represent you in court, if needed. Often, there are chances of compensation if the victim has lost money in sorcery-related scams.