A dress on display at a summer forum held by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a) in the Madina town of Al-Aqeeq has attracted the attention of visitors for its claims to “ward off envy and the evil eye”. The crimson garment, into which “magic talismans” have been embroidered, had reportedly achieved high sales figures before it was seized – along with its creator – by the Hai'a, and put on show at an awareness event at the Summer Call to Islam Forum. “This practitioner of magic exploited women's ignorance by selling this dress which he claimed could ward off magic,” said Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, a member of the Hai'a in Al-Aqeeq. “Women's fear and their suspicions of people made them seek out the dress of their dreams, particularly for the summer and wedding seasons, resulting in the price of the dress going up to thousands of riyals.” Al-Ghamdi warned the public of persons practicing the black arts who, he said, were particularly active at seasonal events and social occasions where they hope to promote their products.
