Kurdish MP fights battle to legalise prostitution

Kuwait Times ^ | Sunday, August 14, 2011 | AFP

[SunkenCiv]

In Kurdistan, where conservative mores still dominate despite its reputation as a haven compared to the rest of Iraq, one female MP is fighting a lonely battle: legalised prostitution. Haza Sulaiman's efforts to regulate and control the trade in northern Iraq's three Kurdish provinces have so far run into widespread opposition from rival lawmakers and religious groups, but the 44-year-old remains undeterred.

We need a special law for the region -- Iraqi law is not consistent with the reality on the ground here," the women's rights activist and current chief of the Kurdish parliament's women's rights committee said. "I have many concerns over the associated issues if we do not organise it under a new law -- those who practice prostitution must be subject to periodic tests to monitor their health and prevent the spread of disease.

At present, Kurdistan is subject to a 1988 law that applies to all of Iraq and bars prostitution entirely, but reserves punishment only for sex workers, not their clients.

[SunkenCiv]

In January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all provinces except for the three provinces comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk province. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010, and after nine months of deadlock the CoR approved the new government in December 2010... Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%... Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian... Council of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition... Kurdistan Alliance 15.3%... Kurdistan Islamic Union 2.3%, Kurdistan Islamic Group 1.4%... Kurdistan Alliance 43... Kurdistan Islamic Union 4, Kurdistan Islamic Group 2... Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI] ...Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]

[SunkenCiv]

• Hotels Head for Kurdish Iraq

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Iraq has libertarians? Who knew?

[BlackVeil]

Fancy that the clients are exempt from being charged - a very sexist law.