Haia: Most magicians from Africa

(MENAFN- Arab News) The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia) said most of the magicians it caught came from the African continent adding that the number of Saudis who practice magic is small.
This was revealed at a an awareness workshop held at Imam Mohammed bin Saud University in Riyadh last week. Ten government agencies took part in the deliberations.
Many visitors came to the Haia wing and said they were surprised by the extent of sorcery and fortune-telling ceremonies that were held and which the Haia tries to teach against.
Haia officials displayed different models of magic works it said the commission confiscated from certain sorcerers and quacks who fell into Haia's net. It also displayed different metal items designed to keep the evil eye away and other items to create a rift between man and wife. The infamous magician's book in Arabic 'Shams Al-Maarif' was on display. This book is for teaching sorcery.
The Haia pavilion also had on display various liquids it confiscated from one of the "wizards" including mixed herbs in a large mold with 'Drink chilled after meals in three large cups daily' written on it.
One Haia officer said these liquids which are used by wizards are prescribed as a kind of medicine for people who search for such illusions.