Chechen Authorities Force Elderly Woman to Publicly Apologize for 'Witchcraft' on State TV

Zara Yakhyaeva

Latest incident highlights decade-long persecution campaign targeting traditional spiritual practices

A 70-year-old woman in Chechnya was detained by police and forced to publicly confess and apologize on state television for allegedly practicing "witchcraft," marking the latest incident in a systematic persecution campaign that has targeted dozens of people since 2013.

Zara Yakhyaeva, a resident of the Kurchaloy district, along with her son Magomed and several women who allegedly sought her services, were taken to the local police station in mid-June. The case was then broadcast on the state-run TV channel "Grozny" as part of what authorities describe as an ongoing crackdown on occult practices.

A Decade of Systematic Persecution

The campaign against alleged "witchcraft" began in 2013 on the initiative of Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov. During the initial wave, dozens of people were detained, with some individuals reportedly disappearing entirely. After a brief hiatus, the persecution resumed "with renewed vigor" in 2019, with state media regularly broadcasting forced confessions from those accused of practicing sorcery.

State journalist Radzhab Yasadov made clear the scope of official intentions, declaring that "the republic's leadership will not stop until the number of witches approaches zero." This represents an explicit policy of elimination rather than isolated law enforcement actions.

Arbitrary Evidence and Public Shaming

The "evidence" presented against Yakhyaeva reveals the arbitrary nature of these accusations. Adam Elzhurkaev, head of the Centre for Islamic Medicine who has played a key role in multiple cases, presented items including candles, bottles of alcohol, pieces of soap, beads, children's toys, sweets, and keychains as proof of witchcraft. The woman's inability to correctly recite a surah from the Quran was also cited as evidence.

Notably, Yakhyaeva's son claimed that his mother suffers from mental illness, raising additional concerns about the targeting of vulnerable individuals.

During the televised broadcast, Elzhurkaev emphasized that "such people have no faith, conscience, or common sense, and the only thing they know how to do is deceive other people." He forced Yakhyaeva to promise she would cease her activities, while her son was made to share responsibility for the alleged offense.

Pattern of Forced Confessions

The television segment showed Yakhyaeva "confessing" and "repenting for her misdeeds" on camera, asking "forgiveness from everyone who had ever been associated with her services." This follows an established pattern where those accused of witchcraft are coerced into publicly apologizing "to the entire Chechen people" on state television, often under what observers describe as duress and humiliating conditions.

The broadcast also featured women identified as Yakhyaeva's clients, who allegedly sought services including love spells, good-luck charms, removal of energy blockages, and assistance with marital problems. One woman reportedly asked for help marrying off her three sons, while another wanted to know if her daughter-in-law would return home.

Broader Crackdown Continues

Yakhyaeva represents the third woman in recent months to undergo these televised "re-education sessions." The state TV journalist reporting her case noted that police are conducting raids on alleged addresses of "magicians and false healers" throughout the Kurchaloy district, with residents encouraged to report neighbors who provide occult services.

The campaign targets practices labeled as "shaitanism" — a term used to describe activities deemed un-Islamic or superstitious by authorities. This broad definition has allowed for the persecution of various traditional and folk spiritual practices.

International Concerns

The systematic nature of these persecution campaigns has drawn international attention. In 2021, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom specifically highlighted the practice of forced public apologies in Chechnya, recommending sanctions against Akhmed Dudaev, the republic's Minister of Press and Information who previously headed the state broadcasting company responsible for airing these confessions.

The use of state media as a tool for public humiliation and social control represents a significant violation of religious freedom and human dignity, with the threat of disappearance adding a particularly sinister dimension to the campaign.

Current Status

As authorities continue their stated goal of eliminating alleged "witches" from Chechen society, the case of Zara Yakhyaeva demonstrates how this decade-long persecution campaign shows no signs of abating. The targeting of elderly and potentially mentally ill individuals, combined with the arbitrary nature of evidence and the use of forced televised confessions, highlights the systematic violation of basic human rights occurring under the guise of religious purification.

The international community continues to monitor these developments as part of broader concerns about human rights violations in Chechnya under Ramzan Kadyrov's leadership.