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Turkey Cracks Down on Legal Brothels Turkey Cracks Down on Legal Brothels
(about 17 hours later)
ISTANBUL — On a cold and wet morning here, half a dozen men were lined up at the metal gate that blocks off an alley called Giraffe Lane in the Beyoglu district, their collars turned up against the rain and their hands shoved into their pockets.ISTANBUL — On a cold and wet morning here, half a dozen men were lined up at the metal gate that blocks off an alley called Giraffe Lane in the Beyoglu district, their collars turned up against the rain and their hands shoved into their pockets.
Having shown their identification to the police officers guarding the gate, they handed over mobile phones, key rings and cigarette lighters to a custodian, shuffled through a metal detector, and sauntered off to take their pick of the brothels that line the lane.Having shown their identification to the police officers guarding the gate, they handed over mobile phones, key rings and cigarette lighters to a custodian, shuffled through a metal detector, and sauntered off to take their pick of the brothels that line the lane.
Every day, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., men make their way in a steady trickle down the steep back alleys below the Galata Tower to disappear behind the gate guarding Giraffe Lane, a cul de sac that is Turkey’s oldest legal and licensed red light district. Every day, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., men make their way in a steady trickle down the steep back alleys below the Galata Tower to disappear behind the gate guarding Giraffe Lane, a cul-de-sac that is Turkey’s oldest legal and licensed red light district.
Founded over a century ago in Ottoman times, the brothel district still serves over 5,000 men a day, even though its heyday is clearly over, with most of its decrepit apartment buildings now empty.Founded over a century ago in Ottoman times, the brothel district still serves over 5,000 men a day, even though its heyday is clearly over, with most of its decrepit apartment buildings now empty.
But early this month, the women working inside poured out to make a stand for their profession. With scarves, shawls and sunglasses concealing their faces, dozens of sex workers assembled on the cobblestones outside Giraffe Lane, brandishing handwritten placards and accusing the authorities of trying to force them out of business.But early this month, the women working inside poured out to make a stand for their profession. With scarves, shawls and sunglasses concealing their faces, dozens of sex workers assembled on the cobblestones outside Giraffe Lane, brandishing handwritten placards and accusing the authorities of trying to force them out of business.
“Leave the Brothels Alone” and “Hands Off My Daily Bread,” the placards read.“Leave the Brothels Alone” and “Hands Off My Daily Bread,” the placards read.
The protest came after a police raid earlier that day in which several brothels were closed down in what the women said was a sting operation aimed at forcing them out of Giraffe Lane.The protest came after a police raid earlier that day in which several brothels were closed down in what the women said was a sting operation aimed at forcing them out of Giraffe Lane.
“Two undercover policemen claimed that women had called out to them, but that is just a trumped-up pretext,” said one of the protesters, all of whom declined to be named.“Two undercover policemen claimed that women had called out to them, but that is just a trumped-up pretext,” said one of the protesters, all of whom declined to be named.
A spokeswoman for the provincial governorate of Istanbul, which is in charge of licensing brothels in Istanbul, said by telephone that she was not aware of any policy to close down brothels or otherwise impede legal prostitution.A spokeswoman for the provincial governorate of Istanbul, which is in charge of licensing brothels in Istanbul, said by telephone that she was not aware of any policy to close down brothels or otherwise impede legal prostitution.
A spokesman for the Istanbul Police Department would not comment on the recent raid on Giraffe Lane but added that he was not aware of a policy singling out brothels for closing.A spokesman for the Istanbul Police Department would not comment on the recent raid on Giraffe Lane but added that he was not aware of a policy singling out brothels for closing.
Prostitution is legal in Turkey in licensed brothels, but soliciting and procuring are not. Four brothels were sealed for a three-month period by the police as a result of the charge, and two were permanently closed as repeat offenders.Prostitution is legal in Turkey in licensed brothels, but soliciting and procuring are not. Four brothels were sealed for a three-month period by the police as a result of the charge, and two were permanently closed as repeat offenders.
“For the past year, the authorities have been closing down these establishments arbitrarily and in violation of existing rules and regulations,” the protesting sex workers said in a declaration read out at the rally.“For the past year, the authorities have been closing down these establishments arbitrarily and in violation of existing rules and regulations,” the protesting sex workers said in a declaration read out at the rally.
The trend is not limited to Istanbul. Ankara had most of the brothels in the Bentderesi red light district, which was demolished last summer after the municipality won a series of court cases. In Antalya, a brothel compound was closed last summer after a mosque was built next to it, because brothels are prohibited from being housed next to schools or places of worship.The trend is not limited to Istanbul. Ankara had most of the brothels in the Bentderesi red light district, which was demolished last summer after the municipality won a series of court cases. In Antalya, a brothel compound was closed last summer after a mosque was built next to it, because brothels are prohibited from being housed next to schools or places of worship.
Ankara and Istanbul are governed by the Justice and Development Party, while Antalya is governed by the People’s Republican Party.Ankara and Istanbul are governed by the Justice and Development Party, while Antalya is governed by the People’s Republican Party.
“They do not understand that closing licensed brothels will not stamp out prostitution, it will merely drive it onto the street and underground, endangering the lives of sex workers and public health,” said Sevval Kilic, co-founder of Women’s Gate, an organization dedicated to helping sex workers.“They do not understand that closing licensed brothels will not stamp out prostitution, it will merely drive it onto the street and underground, endangering the lives of sex workers and public health,” said Sevval Kilic, co-founder of Women’s Gate, an organization dedicated to helping sex workers.
Under Turkish law, sex workers must be vetted and licensed by the provincial authorities and submit to regular hygiene checkups. Licensed brothels, which number just over 50 nationwide, are guarded and supervised by the police. It is this surveillance that makes legal brothels attractive to customers and sex workers, safeguarding them from disease and violence, said Ms. Kilic, who is a former sex worker.Under Turkish law, sex workers must be vetted and licensed by the provincial authorities and submit to regular hygiene checkups. Licensed brothels, which number just over 50 nationwide, are guarded and supervised by the police. It is this surveillance that makes legal brothels attractive to customers and sex workers, safeguarding them from disease and violence, said Ms. Kilic, who is a former sex worker.
This endorsement is shared by experts from the field of sexology.This endorsement is shared by experts from the field of sexology.
“From a scientific point of view, closing those houses down is a very bad idea,” said Akif Poroy, a Turkish specialist on sexual medicine.“From a scientific point of view, closing those houses down is a very bad idea,” said Akif Poroy, a Turkish specialist on sexual medicine.
He said the moves would lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases and violence against women. The sex workers at the protest rally shared his misgivings.He said the moves would lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases and violence against women. The sex workers at the protest rally shared his misgivings.
“There are only 11 houses left open here now,” one of the women said. “There is not enough room for all these girls. We are being forced into the streets to support our children.”“There are only 11 houses left open here now,” one of the women said. “There is not enough room for all these girls. We are being forced into the streets to support our children.”
The police raid in Istanbul left about 60 women temporarily out of work and 30 permanently unemployed. Many of them would be left with no choice but to join the ranks of unlicensed and illegal prostitutes working the streets, estimated by Ms. Kilic to number 100,000. An independent study financed by the European Union in 2007 pegged that figure at 85,000, not counting the substantial number of foreign women plying the trade in Turkey.The police raid in Istanbul left about 60 women temporarily out of work and 30 permanently unemployed. Many of them would be left with no choice but to join the ranks of unlicensed and illegal prostitutes working the streets, estimated by Ms. Kilic to number 100,000. An independent study financed by the European Union in 2007 pegged that figure at 85,000, not counting the substantial number of foreign women plying the trade in Turkey.
Licensed sex workers in Turkey, whose ranks number about 3,500, have virtually no chance of being employed outside their profession, as they are registered with the police and their licenses are issued in place of regular identity cards. Still, an estimated 40,000 women have applications for licenses pending, according to Women’s Gate, the sex workers’ rights group.Licensed sex workers in Turkey, whose ranks number about 3,500, have virtually no chance of being employed outside their profession, as they are registered with the police and their licenses are issued in place of regular identity cards. Still, an estimated 40,000 women have applications for licenses pending, according to Women’s Gate, the sex workers’ rights group.
“Virtually none have been granted since 2002,” the year the Justice and Development Party began governing, Ms. Kilic said.“Virtually none have been granted since 2002,” the year the Justice and Development Party began governing, Ms. Kilic said.
Nowhere is the decline of the industry more manifest than on Giraffe Lane, where locked doors and broken windows of dozens of vacant houses serve as reminders of more boisterous times.Nowhere is the decline of the industry more manifest than on Giraffe Lane, where locked doors and broken windows of dozens of vacant houses serve as reminders of more boisterous times.
Originally founded to serve the European inhabitants of Pera, as Beyoglu was called in Ottoman times, and still sandwiched between two synagogues and an Armenian church, the district saw its glory days in the 1990s, when an Armenian madam named Matild Manukyan ran three dozen brothels there and topped the list of taxpayers in Turkey for five years.Originally founded to serve the European inhabitants of Pera, as Beyoglu was called in Ottoman times, and still sandwiched between two synagogues and an Armenian church, the district saw its glory days in the 1990s, when an Armenian madam named Matild Manukyan ran three dozen brothels there and topped the list of taxpayers in Turkey for five years.
Ms. Manukyan was presented with official plaques and certificates honoring her contribution. That could not happen today, said Mr. Poroy, the sexologist. “It has absolutely become more difficult,” he said, to speak openly about sexuality and about the cultural and political climate of the past decade.Ms. Manukyan was presented with official plaques and certificates honoring her contribution. That could not happen today, said Mr. Poroy, the sexologist. “It has absolutely become more difficult,” he said, to speak openly about sexuality and about the cultural and political climate of the past decade.
To Ms. Kilic, that is precisely where the problem lies. If only there were an open debate about prostitution, the benefits of the system could be argued, she said. “But the authorities are sidestepping the issue, preferring to quietly close the brothels on pretexts,” she said.To Ms. Kilic, that is precisely where the problem lies. If only there were an open debate about prostitution, the benefits of the system could be argued, she said. “But the authorities are sidestepping the issue, preferring to quietly close the brothels on pretexts,” she said.