In Turkmenistan, security forces began raids to hunt and arrest people who are involved in alternative medicine. Even sellers of dried herbs were detained.
ACCA became aware of the detention of several women in Lebap, Mary and Balkan regions. All of them were accused of witchcraft and connections with evil spirits. Our source managed to talk to one of these women, who said that she was brought to one of the police stations in the city of Turkmenabad and forced to write a frank confession of practicing witchcraft. The woman categorically refused to write a confession and pay a fine to the police, citing the fact that she collects and dries herbs according to the book of medicinal herbs written by the President Berdymukhamedov. The police took the woman to her home and demanded to show the President’s book. The herbalist did it. Finally, the policemen went away empty-handed.
“If the police consider me a witch, then our President is the supreme magician and sorcerer of Turkmenistan,” the woman said in an interview with our source. She also said that she lives with her family on bread and water, since the bazaars were closed due to the pandemic and there was no trade at all.
The Turkmen radio “Azatlyk” also reported about the detention of a man in Mary region for witchcraft.
It’s worth recalling that in Turkmenistan, bearded men, Jehovah’s Witnesses and people practicing alternative medicine are constantly being persecuted.
The released report of the human rights organization “Amnesty International” for 2020-2021 says that human rights violations are common in Turkmenistan.
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