Prostitutes Lebanon
The Legal Paradox
To Be Raped or to Become a Prostitute in Beirut presents a harrowing reality for some women facing desperate circumstances in Lebanon. In modern Lebanon, prostitution takes place semi-officially via ‘super night clubs’, and illegally on the streets, in bars, hotels, and brothels. Lebanon’s sex industry operates largely hidden in plain sight, a persistent yet often ignored facet of the economy. Prostitution is actually legal in Lebanon under specific licensing, but no new brothel licences have been issued since the 70s, creating a significant legal gray area. This ambiguity was highlighted when a Lebanese Official in Rabat made controversial remarks about Moroccan women, reflecting the complex dynamics of migrant sex workers. Officially, Lebanese law requires that brothels be licensed, a process that includes regular testing of workers for sexually transmitted infections; however, this system applies to very few establishments today.
Industry Structure and Vulnerable Groups
Beyond traditional sex work, services like escorts, including trans workers, operate discreetly within the city. Thousands of women, primarily from Eastern Europe, Africa, and other Arab countries, travel to Lebanon on artist visas; they often start off as dancers before turning to prostitution after hours. Like tourism, prostitution also thrives in Lebanon, driven by demand and lax enforcement. It occurs in different forms and is practiced within networks that often segregate based on the nationalities of the women involved. Despite the nominal legality under licence, prostitution remains largely illegal in practice, and if indicted, those involved are liable to two years’ imprisonment. Punishment for the girls often involves deportation, while exploiters frequently evade justice.
Risks and Societal Factors
Reports, including a notable BBC documentary exploring Lebanon’s sex industry, indicate that some prostitutes are subject to physical assaults by clients or pimps and endure dangerous working conditions. Syrian refugees, made vulnerable by war, are particularly at risk of being trafficked into sexual slavery in Beirut brothels. Sex work is technically illegal, although there are nightclubs where sex workers are employed as artists/dancers, with sex officially forbidden on the premises but frequently occurring off-site or clandestinely. Brothels have a long history in Beirut, documented even during the French Mandate era. Operations range from hidden apartments to more visible activities, like prostitutes reportedly soliciting on Zahle’s highway or raids by the ISF on hotels in Jounieh leading to arrests. Studies show that factors like poverty, lack of opportunity, and societal pressure drive some Lebanese women into sex work; young girls sometimes seek it for extra pocket money due to a society that often judges people by their appearance. While Lebanon has an estimated significant number of sex workers, the industry persists amidst legal contradictions, economic pressures, and exploitation, particularly of migrant women and refugees.
*TAGS* – artist visas exploitation, Beirut brothel raids, Syrian trafficking victims
