Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has announced that 1,500 individuals have been detained in Tajikistan for engaging in “witchcraft and fortune-telling.”  The state-run news agency Khovar reported on October 30 that the round-up was carried out “after instructions by the head of state.”   

Tajikistan has criminalized fortune-telling and similar services, portraying their practitioners as grifters.

Tajikistan has toughened the punishments for soothsaying and performing "healing sessions" for sick and disabled people as part of an ongoing campaign against those involved in fortune-telling, sorcery, or witchcraft.

According to amendments made to Tajikistan Penal Code in May this year, sorcerers and fortune tellers will now face up to two years in prison or a hefty fine of up to 144,000 somonis (US$13,350).

Previously, according to a 2008 law that outlaws soothsaying as a form of witchcraft, the punishment did not envision imprisonment, while the fine for performing fortune-telling was up to 3,000 somonis ($280).

The Interior Ministry said in late August that legal measures have bene taken against more than 150 people suspected of paying soothsayers to commit “criminal acts.”

 Khovar also reported on October 30 that the government is seriously concerned about the quality of religious instructions.

The news agency noted that more than 5,000 semi-literate mullahs were registered with internal affairs bodies for fanaticism

Although Islam considers soothsaying to be a sin, many Tajiks hold superstitious beliefs in magic, fortune tellers, and paranormal powers.