Translated with AI
The Nurek city police department officers identified and stopped the activities of a local resident who was engaged in witchcraft and spreading superstitions among the population. This was reported on Thursday by the press service of the Khatlon region police department.
During the operational and preventive measure, a 68-year-old resident of the village of Naizirak, Dukon jamoat, Safarbek Toshovich Rakhmatov, was detained. As established, the man offered gullible citizens, mainly women, various occult "services" – including making talismans, reading spells, "healing water", as well as rituals to relieve pain and "open up luck".
Law enforcement officers were particularly interested in the fact that Rakhmatov used cemetery soil in his "rituals", claiming that it supposedly helps in healing and achieving success in business. He practiced such actions in defiance of the prohibition established by law.
In February of this year, an administrative protocol was already drawn up against the detainee under Part 1 of Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Tajikistan. However, the man ignored the punishment imposed and again engaged in prohibited activities.
At the time of his arrest, Rakhmatov had 18 women who had come to him for “help.” All of them were taken to the police station for questioning. Among them were eight residents of the Kushoniyon district, who, according to available information, had traveled a considerable distance to see the “healer.” Their identities have been established: Tuymahol Ganieva, born in 1970; Zulfiya Khamidova, born in 1973; Bibiraykhon Abdueva, born in 1977; Khairiniso Chorieva, born in 1980; Aisunat Abdulloeva, born in 1964; Maksadoy Oymatova, born in 1959; Gulchekhra Khaitova, born in 1972; Kurbonbibi Gulmatova, born in 1967.
They all live in the village of Miyondekh, Istiklol jamoat, Kushoniyon district.
A criminal case has been opened on the basis of the identified actions under Article 240-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan (witchcraft and sorcery). The investigation is ongoing. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminds that such actions not only violate the law, but can also pose a danger to the health and psyche of citizens.
