Tajikistan tightens penalties for people who seek fortune-telling and witchcraft

The government of Tajikistan, aiming to strengthen the fight against the use of services of sorcerers, magicians, and fortune tellers, presented a new proposal to the country’s parliament. According to this proposal, those who approach sorcerers and magicians will be fined, and such cases are considered a serious threat to public safety.

The government of Tajikistan has proposed adding a new clause to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility. According to the changes, if a person contacts a sorcerer or magician, they can be fined from 5 to 10 times the minimum calculation size (approximately 40–80 dollars).

It is worth noting that over the past year, the government of Tajikistan has intensified control over those engaged in esoteric practices. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan announced that it would summon citizens who approach sorcerers and magicians to the authorities, and their names and photos would be entered into a special database. The Ministry explained this as a necessary step to "save" people from magic and prevent magical activities.

In 2024, the punishment for engaging in fortune-telling and magic was also intensified. Changes to the Code of Administrative Responsibility increased the fine amount and the duration of administrative detention, which was extended from 10 to 15 days.

Currently, the cases of fortune-telling and magic have significantly increased in the statistics. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the first half of 2023, 495 cases related to fortune-telling and magic were identified. This shows that the authorities are actively monitoring and checking such situations.

The government of Tajikistan is making these decisions to ensure the safety of society and to protect all citizens from such violations through strict punishment measures.