Authorities concerned about the rise of fortune-telling and witchcraft in Dushanbe

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dushanbe, despite the tightening of penalties, the number of citizens engaged in fortune-telling and witchcraft is not decreasing.

On August 22, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dushanbe reported that “this year, 141 individuals engaged in fortune-telling and witchcraft have been identified, and legal measures have been taken against them”.

City police have intensified their efforts in this area; however, the department noted that despite this, “this category of people still exists.”

Now, the punishment for fortune-tellers and witches has been intensified, and according to the new amendments to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Tajikistan dated June 21, 2024, individuals engaged in fortune-telling and witchcraft face fines ranging from 80 to 100 calculation indicators or administrative arrest for a period of 10 to 15 days.

In the case of fortune-tellers who commit this act again within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty, a criminal case will be initiated, the capital’s police noted.

In such cases, fortune-tellers will be punished with a fine ranging from 1500 to 2000 calculation indicators or imprisonment for a period of one to two years.

In Tajikistan, the calculation indicator is 72 somoni. Consequently, first-time detained fortune-tellers and witches face fines ranging from 5760 to 7200 somoni (from 600 to 730 dollars).

Those caught a second time for fortune-telling and witchcraft will have to pay fines ranging from 108,000 somoni to 144,000 somoni (from 11,000 to 14,500 dollars) or face imprisonment for up to two years.