Witchcraft Rules for Women in Islamic Morocco
Tue Apr 20, 2004 09:07 AM ET=20
By Diana Vrban=20
FES, Morocco (Reuters) - Lalla Aicha's portly body rests languidly on a =
mattress as she listens to a young woman murmuring her most delicate =
secrets.=20
As she begins to counsel her client, the voice of one of the most =
popular witches in Fes pierces the air. Coming from an elderly woman, it =
is at an unexpected high octave.=20
"That's not her talking," whispers Wafa, a restaurant owner who sought =
Lalla Aicha's prophecies for two years. "She is possessed by a spirit of =
a young girl and only in such a state can she see the future."=20
Islam, Morocco's dominant religion, denounces sorcery as a pagan satanic =
rite.=20
However, pre-Islamic practices of black and white magic, witchcraft, =
beliefs in various omens and superstitions are widespread in the North =
African country. Many people believe that jinns, or spirits, rule their =
lives.=20
Lalla Aicha represents a strong and well-wishing spirit fashioned after =
a local heroine who battled Spanish colonizers, according to Khadija =
Amiti, sociology professor at the university of Kenitra, near the =
capital Rabat.=20
"The phenomenon of clairvoyance has not diminished, it has only evolved =
in its methods," she said.=20
HAIR-THICKENING AGENTS=20
Witchdoctors can be found in most towns and villages. Each has a =
traditional medicine shop, selling everything from hair-thickening =
agents to body balms that promise to make a person more popular.=20
"The Islamic leaders preach against it in mosques," Amiti said, but in =
practice they turn a blind eye.=20
"There is a contradiction between religion and the practice of sorcery. =
But the Islamists ... are interested in fighting other things like =
drinking wine or not wearing a veil. Their issues are political, not =
social," she added.=20
According to Amiti, sorcery is "a cultural phenomenon" in the kingdom of =
30 million people and part of everyday life.=20
"For illnesses people believe more and more in medicine, but for =
psycho-pathological problems, mostly marital issues, they consult =
clairvoyants." she said.=20
Wafa, a charismatic woman in her 50s, belongs to one of the oldest =
families in Fes. When in her early 20s, she -- as tradition had it -- =
married her aunt's husband after she died. They had two children and =
lived in prosperity until 10 years ago, when he divorced her.=20
Determined to win him back, Wafa spent 100,000 dirhams ($11,200) and two =
years haunting sorcerers and soothsayers. "Not just in Fes, all over =
Morocco. I was just like a drug addict. I went to see them several times =
a day, even at night," she said.=20
Their therapies varied. In one visit to a fqih, a literate soothsayer =
with knowledge of the Koran, he told her to cook her husband's shirt.=20
"He scribbled something on a piece of paper and then I cooked it with my =
husband's shirt. The more it boiled and bubbled together, the more my =
husband was supposed to want me," said Wafa.=20
"On another occasion, I was told to wave a broomstick in my house every =
day while repeating verses in Arabic and thinking intensely of my =
husband. I was totally crazy."=20
According to popular belief, Wafa said, a woman who wants to ensure her =
husband's fidelity must collect some of his sperm on their wedding =
night, keep it secure until the day she suspects him of adultery and =
then give it to a witchdoctor.=20
Wafa did not think she needed this advice because she had married a man =
twice her age. Her efforts failed and her husband married another woman. =
NOT MARRIAGE COUNSELORS, CLAIRVOYANTS=20
Fatiha, a public notary, said that family and its preservation are at =
the heart of Moroccan life.=20
According to Islamic law practiced in Morocco until very recently, only =
the man could divorce his wife.=20
Although the family code has been changed to allow women to divorce =
their husbands, there is still a stigma for women whose husbands have =
left them. Women are expected to do everything in their power to return =
the man to his original family.=20
"Women here don't go to psychologists or marriage counselors, they go to =
see clairvoyants. If your husband leaves you and you don't look for help =
to get him back, people think badly of you as a wife and a mother," =
Fatiha said.=20
For a person whose business depends on paranormal powers, Lalla Aicha =
keeps surprisingly regular working hours. Her office in a tall building =
in the modern part of Fes opens daily from 9:00-12:30 p.m.. She is =
closed on Fridays and for a few weeks during the year when the young =
girl's spirit fails to visit her.=20
.
|
