'Witch', 45, Arrested for Sexually Exploiting Clients During Fortune Telling ‘Magical Rituals

Fortune-teller Surayo Najmuddinova

A self-proclaimed fortune teller has been arrested in Tajikistan for allegedly coercing young men into sex under the guise of spiritual ceremonies. Surayo Najmuddinova, 45, is facing up to seven years in prison after being charged with “committing acts of a sexual nature using religious or other beliefs.”

Authorities from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan say Najmuddinova abused the trust of male clients, mostly in their late teens and early 20s, who paid her to read their fortunes. The alleged acts were captured on a hidden camera and released by officials, revealing explicit scenes used as evidence in the case.

The "witch" told the young men to have sex with her for rituals

Police stated that Najmuddinova lured her victims into sexual acts by claiming they were part of mystical rituals needed to unlock their destinies or cure spiritual ailments. “The woman abused the trust of citizens who came to her and under the guise of ‘religious ceremonies’ committed acts of a sexual nature against them,” the ministry reported.

She was detained in Rudaki district, near the capital Dushanbe, after multiple complaints led to a covert investigation. This is not Najmuddinova’s first encounter with the law—she had previously been fined twice for practicing fortune telling, an act prohibited under local legislation.

Police described her behaviour as "shameful and disgraceful"

A television report from Dushanbe noted that Najmuddinova convinced clients she possessed “extraordinary energy” in her hands, allegedly capable of diagnosing illnesses and predicting futures by feeling a person’s pulse.

She is currently in custody as a comprehensive investigation continues. Law enforcement emphasized that she carried out “secret actions that were truly considered shameful and disgraceful,” and a criminal case has been formally opened.

She faces seven years in jail

The case has drawn comparisons to a separate incident in Russia last year involving Alyona Polyn, also known as Vladimir Putin’s so-called “favourite witch.” Polyn, 43, was arrested on charges of fraud, extremism, and insulting religious sentiments, despite previously supporting the Kremlin and allegedly working with Russian intelligence services.

During raids on Polyn’s home near Moscow, investigators discovered an array of occult paraphernalia, including voodoo dolls, ritual daggers, dried bats, black candles, and demon statuettes. She was later deemed fit for interrogation after initially being detained in an ambulance.

Polyn gained notoriety in 2019 when she led a public “witches' circle” to cast spells in favor of Putin and against his adversaries.