Prostitutes Bulan

In Turkey, two former sex workers, Ayşe Tütüncü and Saliha Ermez, are running as independent candidates in the national elections. They are campaigning with the support of Hayrettin Bulan and an anti-poverty group. This same group, led by Bulan, made headlines by staging a protest in Istanbul’s Taksim Square calling for the establishment of male brothels. Their radical proposal stemmed from frustration over the challenges in fighting prostitution, representing a shift in tactics.

Global Enforcement Contrasts

Meanwhile, in Gombe State, Nigeria, authorities are actively cracking down on sex work. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded suspects, including commercial sex workers, arrested in raids on illegal nightclubs and brothels. These enforcement actions are part of a broader ban implemented by the state government. Conversely, in Nevada, USA, it’s illegal in populous counties like Clark (Las Vegas) though legal in some rural areas. Japan maintains technical illegality despite visible adult industries, while Islamic law (Sharia) explicitly forbids all prostitution transactions.

Human Dimensions

Personal narratives highlight the desperation that can lead to sex work. One account describes a grandmother in the 1930s working as a “socialite” to feed her mother’s gambling addiction. Another involves a mother turning to prostitution at age 9. A trans woman shared her introduction to sex work in Abuja where services were “cheap and accessible.” Research in Southwest China examined HIV/AIDS prevention, while Indonesian studies focused on guiding Wanita Tunasusila (WTS). In Denizli, Turkey, escort services advertise openly online despite prohibitions.

*TAGS* – male brothels protest, Nigeria NSCDC raids, Wanita Tunasusila studies