Latest news with #sorcery
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Man jailed for paying sorceresses Dh30,000 to win back wife's love
The Fujairah Court of Appeal has upheld a six-month jail sentence against a man convicted of engaging in sorcery and violating the privacy of his wife and her family by sharing personal photos with an alleged "spiritual healer" via WhatsApp. The case began when the wife filed a police report claiming her husband had used black magic on her, their children, and her relatives. She discovered this after a spiritual healer sent her photos and WhatsApp conversations proving the husband's involvement. According to local news outlet Emarat Al Youm, the man admitted during questioning that he had searched online for someone to perform love spells to win back his wife. He found a woman living in another Arab country who promoted herself on social media as a specialist in "bringing back loved ones". He contacted her through WhatsApp and agreed to pay her Dh20,000. He also sent her personal photos of his wife, a video of himself, and both their phone numbers as part of the arrangement. Later, the woman demanded an additional Dh25,000, which he refused to pay. She then threatened to expose him by sending the images and messages to his wife. Ignoring the threats, he turned to another sorcerer and paid Dh10,000. When that failed, he contacted a third woman who didn't ask for money, but before anything progressed, he was arrested by police. The wife, who had already filed for divorce due to ongoing abuse and had left the marital home two months prior, said her suspicions were confirmed when a woman from outside the UAE contacted her, offering evidence of her husband's use of magic for a fee of Dh35,000. When the wife refused to pay without proof, the woman sent her photos, a video, and images of spells, which she submitted as evidence to authorities. The Public Prosecution charged the man with four offenses: engaging in fraud and sorcery with unknown individuals (whose phone numbers were traced), endangering others, violating privacy by sending personal images via WhatsApp, and unlawfully possessing and sharing private materials. The case was classified as a misdemeanor under cybercrime and fraud laws. The first court sentenced him to six months in prison and ordered the confiscation and destruction of the seized materials. He appealed the verdict, denying the charges in court. However, the appellate court rejected his denial, finding the original ruling was based on solid evidence and legal reasoning. The appeal was dismissed, and the initial verdict of six months in jail and confiscation of all materials was officially upheld.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- RNZ News
Bougainville legal dept looking towards sorcery violence policy
Sorcery-related violence is still a problem in Papua New Guinea Photo: 123RF The Department of Justice and Legal Services in Bougainville is aiming to craft a government policy to deal with violence related to sorcery accusations. The Post Courier reports a forum, which wrapped up on Wednesday, aimed to dissect the roots of sorcery/witchcraft beliefs and the severe violence stemming from accusations. An initial forum was held in Arawa last month. Central Bougainville's Director of Justice and Legal Services, Dennis Kuiai, said the forums' ultimate goal is crafting a government policy. Further consultations are planned for South Bougainville next week and a regional forum in Arawa later this year. "This policy will be deliberated and developed into law to address sorcery and [sorcery accusation-related violence] in Bougainville," he said. "We aim to provide an effective legal mechanism." He said the future law's structure was to target three key areas: the violence linked to accusations, sorcery practices themselves, and addressing the phenomenon of "glass man". A glassman or glassmeri has the power to accuse women and men of witchcraft and sorcery. Papua New Guinea outlawed the practice in 2022. The forum culminated in the compilation and signing of a resolution on its closing day, witnessed by officials. Sorcery has long been an issue in PNG. Those accused of sorcery are frequently beaten, tortured, and murdered, and anyone who manage to survive the attacks are banished from their communities. In April, a mother-of-four was was reportedly rejected by her own family after she was saved by a social justice advocacy group. In August last year, an advocate told people in Aotearoa - where she was raising awareness - that Papua New Guinea desperately needed stronger laws to protect innocents and deliver justice for victims of sorcery related violence. In October 2023, Papua New Guinea MPs were told that gender-based and sorcery violence was widespread and much higher than reported . In November 2020, two men in the Bana district were hacked to death by members of a rival clan, who claimed the men used sorcery against them.
