Babil court sentences man to five years in prison for social media ‘witchcraft’

BABIL — The Hilla Misdemeanor Court in Babil governorate on Tuesday sentenced a man to five years in prison for practicing ‘witchcraft and sorcery’ through social media, the Judiciary’s media office said.

The court found that the man had performed witchcraft for several people in the governorate. The verdict was issued under Article 456/1/a of Iraq’s Penal Code.

In Iraq, witchcraft-related activities are prosecuted under laws covering fraud and deception. Article 456 applies when someone gains profit through fraudulent means, including exploiting others’ belief in magic for financial gain.

In April 2025, Iraqi authorities announced the arrest of 48 people across several governorates on charges related to witchcraft, deception, and extortion-based practices.

In Islam, witchcraft—known as sihr in Arabic—is forbidden and considered a major sin. Islamic texts, including the Qur’an and Hadith, condemn the practice as a form of disbelief and deception.

Religious scholars widely interpret sihr as invoking jinn or supernatural forces other than God, acts considered shirk, or associating partners with God.