On November 6, 2026, the Anti-Human Trafficking Branch in Al-Hasakah Governorate—in coordination with the Department for the Licensing of Quranic Healing under the Al-Hasakah Directorate of Endowments (Awqaf)—announced the arrest of approximately ten individuals suspected of involvement in witchcraft and sorcery. They have since been referred to the competent judicial authorities.
This operation is part of an intensifying security campaign aimed at pursuing those involved in such practices. Similar actions have recently taken place in Jarablus, where internal security forces arrested six individuals—including three women—in September 2026. In Aleppo, a woman was also arrested after appearing in a video clip performing acts associated with sorcery.
However, while these campaigns are significant, they are insufficient on their own to address such a deeply rooted phenomenon. They target the symptoms rather than the root causes, overlooking the legal, educational, and social dimensions that render sorcery a complex crime—one that threatens individuals, families, and society as a whole.
The Scale of the Phenomenon:
The danger of sorcery extends far beyond the financial exploitation of citizens; it encompasses crimes that are far more destructive to the social fabric. Judge Mohammad Kharbatli, head of the Seventh Court of First Instance for Penal Cases in Damascus, revealed that while cases of sorcery motivated solely by financial gain have become less frequent, many current cases involve rape. In these instances, the practitioner performs rituals on women, renders them unconscious, and engages in non-consensual sexual acts with them.
This indicates that sorcery serves as a gateway to more severe sexual and physical crimes, exploiting the psychological and social vulnerabilities of the victims. More alarmingly, accusations of sorcery have become a pretext for extrajudicial killings. Since the beginning of 2025, several Syrian provinces have witnessed attacks that resulted in the deaths of men and women accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery. During the first eight months of 2026, 334 criminal acts—including murders—were documented, claiming the lives of 362 people; this follows the 401 such crimes that took the lives of 464 people throughout the entirety of 2025.
While these figures do not necessarily imply that every one of these crimes is linked to sorcery, they point to an environment defined by violence and impunity—one where an accusation of witchcraft becomes a convenient weapon for settling scores or carrying out acts of vengeance.
Why do people turn to sorcerers?
To understand the phenomenon of sorcery, one must look beyond simple moral judgments and analyze the deeper, underlying causes that leave Syrians—burdened by a compounding series of crises—vulnerable to such delusions.
Turning to sorcerers is a dangerous indicator of a structural flaw in the psychological and social coping mechanisms available to individuals within society. Furthermore, a profound spiritual and economic void acts as a primary driver; economic hardship and psychological distress push people to seek quick fixes, leading them to turn to sorcerers in hopes of resolving their problems. In the specific context of Syria, these factors are exacerbated by war, displacement, and economic collapse. As poverty and unemployment spread, individuals seek explanations for their circumstances; sorcery offers a quick answer, providing a false sense of understanding regarding the root of their problems—a path that ultimately costs them money and negatively impacts their personal relationships and daily lives.
These causes extend beyond poverty and ignorance to include a spiritual void and a weakening of religious conscience. With the declining role of religious institutions in providing guidance, and the prevalence of a religious discourse that fails to address people’s everyday concerns, many turn to sorcery as a substitute for genuine religious inquiry. Legal Framework:
Article 754 of the Syrian Penal Code stipulates that anyone who engages in—for the purpose of profit—spirit communication, hypnosis, astrology, palmistry, card reading, or any other practice involving claims of foreseeing the future, shall be subject to a discretionary prison sentence ranging from one to ten days, and a fine between 500 and 2,000 Syrian pounds, along with the confiscation of any tools or means used. Repeat offenders face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 Syrian pounds; foreign nationals may also be deported. If it is determined that a charlatan has obtained large sums of money from victims by deceiving them with claims of supernatural abilities, this minor offense provision no longer applies. Instead, the case is elevated to a felony or misdemeanor of “fraud” under Article 641 of the Syrian Penal Code, which carries penalties of imprisonment for several years, in addition to substantial financial fines.
As is evident, given the current inflation and economic collapse, these penalties have ceased to be a deterrent. The fines now amount to negligible sums, entirely insufficient to discourage a charlatan who reaps massive profits from such activities.
More concerning is that Syrian law does not explicitly criminalize “digital charlatanry”—practices that have migrated to social media platforms, where various pages and accounts promote services such as breaking spells, attracting a romantic partner, increasing one’s wealth, or curing illnesses. Reports indicate that incidents of cyber-extortion have risen by 30 percent during the war in Syria. Certain charlatans exploit the psychological distress of vulnerable individuals—or those facing personal crises—to carry out their crimes, with women and girls constituting the majority of the victims.
The shortcomings are not limited to the inadequacy of existing penalties; there is also a lack of a precise legal definition for acts of sorcery and the extortion linked to them.
Article 754 of the Syrian Penal Code addresses the act of claiming knowledge of the unseen for the purpose of financial gain. However, it fails to cover instances of sexual or financial extortion perpetrated by charlatans under the guise of “spiritual rituals.” This leaves many victims in a precarious legal position, particularly in cases involving “honor” crimes or extortion through the use of photographs or videos.
Legal and Awareness-Raising Perspective:
Based on this assessment, the Syrian Future Movement (Tayyar al-Mustaqbal al-Suri) recommends adopting an integrated legal and awareness-raising approach—one that accounts for the realities of the transitional period while looking toward a future rooted in civil, modern values:
First: Amend Article 754 of the Syrian Penal Code to encompass “cyber-sorcery” and its associated extortion. Financial penalties should be increased to a level that serves as a genuine deterrent, commensurate with the illicit profits generated by these charlatans. Furthermore, provisions for severe prison sentences should be introduced for cases involving sexual extortion or exploitation. Additionally, a dedicated law on cybercrime must be enacted to specifically address digital extortion carried out under the pretext of sorcery.
Second: Strengthen oversight and accountability mechanisms; it is insufficient, for instance, to merely arrest a handful of individuals Furthermore, a national body should be established to combat sorcery and spiritual fraud. This body should include representatives from the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments), the Ministry of Interior, the judiciary, and consumer protection agencies. Its mandate would include monitoring online pages and accounts that promote such services, coordinating efforts among relevant authorities, and setting clear regulations for the practice of legitimate spiritual healers.
Third, a national awareness-raising strategy must be launched. This strategy should target the most vulnerable groups—particularly women and youth—through media literacy initiatives. Such initiatives would empower citizens to verify information, distinguish between authentic religious content and fraudulent material, and develop critical thinking skills regarding content encountered on social media.
UNESCO, for instance, is working with national partners in Syria to promote media and information literacy, foster critical thinking, and build resilience against misinformation, while also exploring support for a sustainable national policy and strategy in this area. Additionally, a culture of mental health awareness should be promoted, clarifying that many cases attributed to sorcery are, in fact, treatable psychological disorders. People should be encouraged to seek help from qualified professionals rather than turning to sorcerers.
Fourth, social and economic protection must be strengthened. Sorcery cannot be addressed in isolation from its root causes; poverty, unemployment, and psychological vulnerability create a fertile environment for this phenomenon to thrive.
The national strategy must incorporate social protection programs, mental health support, job creation for youth, and family counseling services, ensuring that citizens do not feel compelled to turn to sorcerers in search of solutions to their problems.
Conclusion:
The phenomenon of sorcery in Syria serves as a true test of the new state’s capacity to build a civilized civil society—one rooted in reason, science, and the rule of law, rather than in superstition, fear, and exploitation. While the arrest of ten individuals in Al-Hasakah is a necessary step, it is far from sufficient. The real battle is not merely against the sorcerers themselves, but against the environment that breeds them: poverty, spiritual emptiness, psychological vulnerability, legislative shortcomings, and a lack of public awareness.
Should Syria succeed in addressing these root causes, it will not only eradicate sorcery but also foster a society that is more conscious, cohesive, and dignified—the very kind of society that the Syrian people deserve after years of suffering.
