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During the 1990s, the Maldives became perhaps the first country in the world to use a 'military' tactic to invade a brothel house, when a high ranking officer of the National Security Service announced on national TV that Ni*** Mo** house in Maafannu was raided and prostitutes caught in action. Since then brothel houses are being raided with increasing frequency (though military tactics are no longer used), indicating that the business is burgeoning.
As years pass by, the business is also evolving. For example, when Ni*** Mo** brothel was in operation 10 years back, the staff as well as the clientele were all Maldivian. Nowadays both tend to be foreigners. The staff now comes from places as far as Samarkand and Shanghai.
Those arrested in the most recent raid included 3 Chinese women and a Bangladeshi man. Caught flagrante delicto in a guesthouse in H. White Stream, the quartet were 36 year old Caixia Zhuang, 38 year old Ziufang Wang and 26 year old Lihua Rao and Mahabub Aalam. The police recovered from them money and 'equipment' used for the act (whatever that meant).
Perhaps such foreigners represent the tip of the iceberg. There is reason to believe that a larger hidden component exists, involving Maldivian girls and Maldivian clients. However, it's more difficult to detect because that particular market segment operates on a different model using mobile phones and house visits. There is also a niche up-market segment that provides escorts for holidays in resorts, Colombo or Singapore.
According to the few surveys that have been conducted within the local community, the price of a unit of sex has been steadily decreasing from about 500 rufiyaa about 5 years back to about 100 rufiyaa these days (there is a price range of course). This indicates an increase in supply.
Prostitution will not disappear unless its social root causes are addressed:
- An expatriate population of 80,000 in the Maldives;
- A floating population of about 20,000 Maldivians in Male;
- Wide income disparities between poor households and the elite.
27 comments:
who are the major clientele of these hugger-mugger brothels. Maldivians or foreigners. I think it all Maldivians. even Bangaalhis are setting up expensive businesses here, well at least we can safely assume that some rich Maldivian would be behind the curtains.
wa laa thagurabu-zzinaa. Innahu kaana faahishathan wa saa sabeelaa. take this message to the people. that will stop it.
to anon 4:25, most of the time forgners r caught in raids. maldivians may be taking girls to safe places.
I am not convinced by income disparities as a cause. It is true that income disparities are the highest in the region but people living in absolute poverty has decreased.
A fourth cause that can be mentioned is urbanization with male workers ‘needing’ sex while they stay away for long periods from home. Moreover the erosion of values or social and lifestyle ‘pluralisms’ emerging in our society contributes.
However the most important is the link to the drug issue. Many female addicts unlike their male counterparts do not mug their way to their daily ration. They offer sex (and very cheap sex) to buy narcotics
To 4:52 AM , if such words fix stuff. there will be no suffering in this world. Be real!
As for a solution. To foreign workers some kind of entertainment need to be introduced. Some things need to be legalized or else things will just get worse. A controlled entertainment industry for these workers is needed. We need to get our of the box, and leave the traditional ways of thinking and start to be more practical. In any case there is no way to stop these things, so keep that in mind and workout a solution.
In my opinion, This bussiness of prostitution is a demanding one now.Efforts put by the authorities are not just good enough. We need to develop a better and efective way to counter it and to do this we hav to find the root of the bussiness. where it is planted, who is watering them. The sad truth is this root begins from the maldivian blood. Behind every such bussiness maldivians are backing them. Either financially or otherwise. To stop these we need a stronger police force working undercover(not that there isn't one right now) to find out the people behind the scenes and to catch them by surprise. If effective measures aren't taken on this, diseases like HIV AIDS and other STD's would be household name in our societies. We also neet to have more awareness programs to make sure our brothers know the risky pleasure they are buying for 100 bucks! I would strongly say Military raid ain't just enough now
we got to have a better and more strategical method to counter this.
The only solution, as in the case of drugs is to legalize prostitution, in certain hot-spots around Maldives.
This will reduce, the so-called illicit effects of prostitution on the society as a whole and also give a safer working environment for prostitutes to conduct their business.
This would help curb spread of venereal diseases, if otherwise go unchecked.
In a modern liberal democracy it makes no sense, when government criminalizes and in-prison two consenting adults engaging in sexual congress even if it involves a business component.
Establishment of brothels in hot-spots can help generate revenue to the government through a thoroughly planned taxation mechanism.
As you can see, the benefits are many fold.
I think the root causes has to be redefined:
- everyone needs sex and has to be allowed to have it if two consenting adults wants. Problem is our society regard sex, especially out of marriage as a monster. ofcourse it would as this is 100% sunni state. But when the ways are restricted for them, some tends to not even try to find a partner (potentially life partner), but rather involve in the game of prostitution.
This is the result of the mammonized society of today. The sins of the fathers against the gene pool and the damage it has done is being seen today.
to 5:15 am, the problem is some people think Islam is a "boadhaa" and "katu" religion not fit for today. if we follow the words of the Creator then there will be no prostitution in Maldives.
To Anon 5:11, very good observations, particularly on urbanization, pluralism and drugs. in case of income disparity, some thing else operates. there are many working girls and students who are cash strapped. there are generous men who help them to recharge their phones, take to restaurants and occasinally help with rent and bills. during the freidship that ensues, sex also occurs. but none of these people may be thinking of this as prostitution.
can anyone explain this riddle? when two people have sex it's bad. but when they marry it's ok. and in heaven unlimited sex is good.
'The evolving illicit sex industry'? And where is the legit sex industry?
Meekaaku, when sex is forbidden it heightens pleasure. That's why there is only a illegal sex industry
Either way, there is no need to mention illicit sex industry, as if there is another legit sex industry.
i wonder what the 'military tactics' were..? climbing over the wall..?
If I look at the previous posts drugs, punishment for criminals and this post on prostitution I see an attempt by Dr Abdulla Waheed to soften and mainstream these issues. Please keep your liberal agenda to yourself.
If we can freely fornicate on the streets and socialize criminals into society what does that say about us as a society. OR are we a society?.
when people are forced to live like animals, these sort of social evils are likely to arise.
anon@9:18,
I think Dr. Waheed is keeping it to himself, ie this blog. This is his blog and he can write whatever he wants. If you don't like it, don't read it, or you can comment (like you already did), which fortunately dr. waheed is not censoring.
As for the issues, they are already mainstream and everyone agrees it needs to be addressed.
We live in a xenophobic world in Maldives... we are too scared to look at even Pope on the News LOL!
Its time we open up and start talking and discussing issues we been hiding in our closets for too long.
Oh the Chinese girls were quite beautiful. PLease dont deport them. Let them stay. Let them bring some joy and happiness to some lonely souls.
There are beautiful virgins for men in Heaven. What about us,girls?What do we get as reward?
Do we get offered to the men? But we are not virgins. Maybe the virginity is restored each time.
I will vote for any candidate who advocates free sex and legalizing brothels.But the charges must be "ai foara hisaabu".
At anon 2pm, yes, the virginity is restored after each time. it is given in Hadees. But don't be too happy. virgins rarely enjoy first sex. it's only for men's pleasure.
to Anonymous 2.01, For God's sake, this is a 100% Islamic country. here there will be no customers for brothels. if you want please go to bankok.
Unbelievable moment when a women start to fight with man, really it happen on everywhere of the earth.
best example of career in sex industry but it should me according to low.
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