Tuesday, January 25, 2005

One of our traditional industries

Name me one of the oldest industries in Bahrain, an industry for which Bahrain has a comparative advantage in scale, price, resources, human capital, with access to a large consumer market. Manufacturing? No. Tourism? No. IT? No. Ok give up...it is s-e-x.

Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.
Karl Kraus 1874-1936, Austrian Satirist


When it comes to Bahrain, prostitution and corruption come hand in hand. Prostitution is one of the oldest industries known to humanity, it's been around for as long as sex has been a marketable product and demand and supply has existed in the 'market' place. Bahrain is not an exception. Despite it being a social taboo, Bahrain is notorious for it's red-light districts and Russian girls often seen walking around shopping malls with bodyguards (the Moroccans and Filipinos don't get a brainless pile of muscle for protection unfortunately). It is common knowledge that these prostitution rings are propped up by pimps, eh sorry, high ranking officials, who provide brothel-like accommodation, visas, and protection from the law.

Below is a government notice dated 8th February 1939. Other than making quite a funny read in arabic with words like 'Al3ahiraat almojahiraat' , it shows that the government has always been quite tolerant to this industry historically but has tried to confine it to certain areas. It states the following:

Notice Number 50, 1355

Prostitutes

  1. All immodest prostitutes are ordered to live in prostitute places and they
    are not allowed to stay in honorable places in Manama and Muharraq.
  2. The places assigned to the immodest prostitutes is (fareeg madree waish) x
    district in Manama and x (madree waish) district in Muharraq.
  3. Owners of the honorable places are responsible in a court [of law]
    if they allow immodest prostitutes or gamblers.
  4. If within one month from this date, any immodest prostitute is found
    staying in an honorable place and hasn't moved to the prostitute
    district will be prosecuted in court.
  5. Any foreign prostitute caught violating these orders will be banished
    from Bahrain.

27 Dhul hijjah 1355

8 February 1937

Advisor to the Bahraini Government.





Who was the advisor to the Bahraini government in 1939? Was he British?

Come on, lets dish out the dirt, lets name some names - who is the big fish behind these prostitution rings? Who is the big-daddy pimp? Who is making millions exploiting third-world poverty-striken women?

Posted by BB @ 1/25/2005 01:57:00 AM

Read or Post a Comment

Sir Charles Belgrave was the advisor to the Amir from 1026-1957. Would that be the same as advisor to the Bahrain goverment? 

Posted by chrisamillion

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 1/25/2005 11:42:00 AM #
 

Immodest prostitutes? No restrictions or penalties for their unscrupulous patrons?  

Posted by sume

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 1/25/2005 03:14:00 PM #
 

As opposed to the modest ones, yes.

Restrictions - expensive habit on a pearl diver's income

Penalties - I'm sure the clap counts 

Posted by Desert Island Boy

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 1/26/2005 08:12:00 AM #
 

Sad to say so but prostitution is a major industry in Bahrain.. why do you think on thursday evenings you see 3 digit saudi plates driving to bahrain via the causeway ;-) 

Posted by Unadulterated Arrogance

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 2/01/2005 01:21:00 AM #
 

Hehehehe...
Three-digit Saudi plates ?
ALL Saudi plates are now three digits and three letters.
I entertain myself while driving reading them : ghabi, khara, sarra3, 3asal, gamil, bagar, etc ... 

Posted by Silly Girl

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 2/06/2005 04:09:00 PM #
 

I am on bahrain for a trip im still here.. and i did take a thai girl back to my room.. but after reading about it the industry i felt bad... i realize the women are screened for aids but what about std's? I dont see how these women can go into these clubs garfields, f1 and do the same thing everynight they are like pirahnas when you walk in ... they would definitely make more money in the USA but they are paid low and it is their means of survival.... ill write more later

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 11/03/2007 01:21:00 PM #
 
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