BAGHDAD BROTHELFine Wines and Swimming Pools
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Photos by Nina Khoshnoudi
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 llah never smiled on street walking. Under Iraq’s former Baathist regime, being a prostitute was seriously risky business. If caught soliciting or even being suspected of plying your trade, a hooker would face jail, with death commonly used as a demonstrative tool. In 2000, Saddam ordered the public beheading of 200 women, forcing all local sex-workers to join brothels in neighbouring Jordan and Syria.
Now, with 75 percent unemployment among Iraqi youth (mainly due to the US government disarming the Iraqi army—the country’s main employer), the onus to provide has fallen upon women. With a society forced beyond the breaking point, their own values disintegrated under sanctions and occupation, combined with what has essentially become a US judicial system espousing Western values, local prostitution is back.
More importantly, the influx of American contractors and military officials has brought the cash to allow scenes like the above on Baghdad’s Karada Street to become a regular fixture in the visiting Westerner’s Iraq experience. The Lebanese businessmen who run this compound started out as small-time hustlers selling Viagra in Beirut but their entrepreneurial streak has led them east through Afghanistan into Iraq. They have created a secure escape from the reality they continue to exploit filled with fine wines, Cohibas, swimming pools and whores.
The girls lure the Western money in and it is swiftly relieved from uniformed pockets by obliging, nubile Iraqi girls as young as 14 who are more than happy to shut up, bend over and occasionally laugh sweetly. Repeat business is common and girls can earn anything up to $2,500 a month. While the growing practice is condemned by resurgent Islamic clerical elements, it shows no sign of abating and is certainly keeping these Lebanese fellas in funny smelling aftershave for the foreseeable future.
ALACH MINHADI
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To george: Simply put your an idiot, i could explain why, put im sure most like minded will know what i mean and the rest like you.. wont. Keep living in your fantasy world. | | Anonymous, on Sep 2, 2009 wrote:
Yawn.. "From another point of view" your right, we all know it, but cant say it because we are either too stupid to figure it out or because it would be unpatriotic. And yes.. we the west have caused a whole heap of shit around the world in the pursuit of the £ or $, thats just what we do. Im sure if the shoe was on the other foot, there would be the same problems. Nice ass in the bottom left tho :-b | | Anonymous, on Mar 22, 2009 wrote:
Uh, no. American soldiers are not allowed sojourns out on the town, and contractors are under the jurisdiction and supervision of the US state department. You want someone to blame for Iraqi prostitution? How about the Iraqis actually doing it? Novel concept, I know...it not being America’s fault and all. | | Anonymous, on Mar 19, 2009 wrote:
mmm, war-torn ass... | | Anonymous, on Dec 28, 2008 wrote:
BROTHELs i love them | | |
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