Hair salon in Istanbul ‘illegal abortion clinic operated by Syrians,’ police say

Çetin Yılmaz - ISTANBUL

A business what looked like a hair salon in Istanbul’s Arnavutköy district was actually an illegal abortion clinic operated by Syrian migrants, according to the police.

The police launched an operation on Jan. 16 after a tip-off claiming that a hair salon in Arnavutköy was only a front for an illegal business.

Three Syrian nationals, including a doctor, were detained in the operation after police found abortion equipment and bloody clothes inside the shop.

Four women, who were waiting inside and are believed to be patients, were also interrogated as witnesses.

A set of Arabic language business cards found in the shop read “Clinic for women and children - Faryal M. pregnancy monitoring center.”