Flying Carpets

• Type: Transportation, Magical Device
• Owners: Various wizards and witches, particularly outside of Britain. Ali Bashir is a known importer.
• Maker: The specific origin of the enchantment is unknown, but the practice is common in many parts of the world, especially in Asia.

A flying carpet is a conventional woven carpet that has been magically enchanted to fly. Their appearance varies widely, presumably reflecting the artistic styles of their regions of origin, often featuring intricate patterns and rich colours. They can be created in various sizes to accommodate different numbers of passengers. A notable example was a twelve-seater model capable of transporting a large group, which was impounded by the Ministry of Magic.

The primary magical property of a flying carpet is its ability to achieve sustained flight, serving as a mode of transportation. Unlike broomsticks, which are the preferred mode of personal aerial transport in Britain, carpets offer several advantages:

• They can carry multiple passengers at once with ease and comfort.
• The ride is generally considered more stable and comfortable than that of a broomstick.
• They do not require the same physical dexterity to ride as a broomstick.

Despite these benefits, their use is strictly outlawed in Britain, though they remain a popular and legal form of travel in other magical communities across the globe.

Flying carpets were once an accepted form of magical transport in Britain. However, the Ministry of Magic eventually banned their use. The ban was enacted because carpets are defined as a Muggle artifact by the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects. The charming of Muggle artifacts is illegal in Britain, a measure intended to prevent breaches of the International Statute of Secrecy. The logic is that Muggles seeing a familiar object like a carpet flying would be a blatant and undeniable display of magic. According to Barty Crouch Sr., head of the Department of Magical International Cooperation at the time, the ban was relatively recent as of 1994. The strict enforcement of this law was a point of contention within the Ministry. While Mr. Crouch proudly upheld the ban, confiscating illegal imports, others like Arthur Weasley believed the ban was prejudiced and sought to have it lifted.

Flying carpets are first and most significantly discussed in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Their illegality in Britain becomes a key topic of conversation at the Quidditch World Cup campground. The discussion highlights the bureaucratic nature of the Ministry of Magic and the differing ideologies within it.

• Barty Crouch Sr.'s rigid adherence to the ban characterizes him as a strict traditionalist who prioritizes regulations above all else. His confrontation with Ali Bashir over an imported twelve-seater carpet demonstrates his uncompromising nature.
• Arthur Weasley's desire to lift the ban showcases his fascination with Muggle artifacts and his more open-minded, progressive viewpoint. It also demonstrates an internationalist perspective not shared by all in the Ministry.
• The existence of flying carpets serves as important world-building, illustrating that Britain's magical customs (like a preference for broomsticks) are not universal and that the magical world has its own set of international laws and trade regulations.

• The concept of the flying carpet is a well-known magical object from folklore, most famously featured in the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales, One Thousand and One Nights.
• According to the Pottermore website, the primary reason for the British ban on flying carpets is that they are intrinsically a Muggle-made object. Enchanting them is seen as a clear violation of the International Statute of Secrecy, whereas broomsticks are considered to have a distinct magical identity less likely to be traced back to the magical community if spotted by a Muggle (Pottermore).
• Despite their importance in the legal framework of the wizarding world, no character is ever seen actually flying on a carpet within the narrative of the seven original novels.