Turkish deputy proposes shutting down brothels

ISTANBUL

Sex workers employed at a brothel in Karaköy district of Istanbul previously staged a protest against a temporary, 15-day closure of six brothels in the neighborhood. DHA Photo

Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Nureddin Nebati recently proposed a new regulation to his party that would shut down brothels in the country, according to daily Hürriyet.

The proposal, which defines brothels as “modern-age slavery,” is being processed by party officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ. Nebati has reportedly said, “States shouldn’t allow women to be sold like material things.”

The proposal is unlikely to receive a positive response, according to AKP sources, as such a ban would force the industry into the streets to continue, unregistered.

Turkey has around 56 brothels with 3,000 registered sex workers nationwide. Including unregistered workers, the number reaches over 100,000, according to a recent report by Turkey’s Sex Education, Treatment and Research Center.