KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim scholars want laws to ban witchcraft to help stem a tide of robberies, a national newspaper reported today.

Witchcraft is forbidden in Islam, but there are currently no civil, or Islamic sharia laws, that clearly prohibit it.

Reports of the use of so-called black magic are widespread in this majority Muslim country, with robbers said to use spells to ensure a successful heist.

"Criminals were said to have tapped a victim's back or blow cigarette smoke on a victim's face to cast spells, making them unaware they are being robbed," respected Muslim scholar Haron Din was quoted in the New Straits Times as saying at a seminar on "Love Magic and Diagnosis Methodology."

Haron said one way to catch black magic practitioners was to find evidence of animal skulls, rosary beads, incense and old daggers that he said were used in performing witchcraft.

Influential cleric Mohamed Tamyes Abdul Wahid, who organised seminar, said laws on black magic should be applied to Muslims as well as the sizable Buddhist, Christian and Hindu minorities in the country.

Islam is the official religion in this country of 28 milllion people. Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims as well as a civil legal system.

The punishment for black magic under Muslim laws could include whipping and banishment from the district where the offender resided, the scholars said.

Courtesy: Zenit.org