COMPLAINT BOX
Ajman residents say massage centres are not what they claim to be. They suspect such parlours in the emirate lure customers to sex and want authorities to take action.
ajman – With hundreds of flyers showing massage services with explicit pictures, the residents here voice their concerns and wonder whether those service providers are masseuses or sex workers.
Sherif Al Wakeel, an Egyptian resident at the New Industrial area, told Khaleej Times that he found so many of these flyers on his two cars every day. “All such massage cards are cascaded late at night when no one is present to say ‘no, thanks, not interested.’”
Many of these cards are displaying nude young women, mostly Asians, said Essam Mohammed, a Syrian resident at the Nuaimeya area. “They never stop. It is actually kind of harassment.”
“Some masseuses may even start giving regular massage but in a teasing way to lure the customer to sex,” said Khalid Rashad, an accountant here. “This actually happened to one of my friends, but he quickly left the place.”
Umm Abdullah, a teacher here, said she was shocked when she saw some of these cards with her grade-7 son.
Assadullah M., a Bangladeshi imam, said many of those massage providers do not have licensed centres. “They are stationed in regular apartments here.”
What is more serious is the homebased massage, known as ‘Outcall’ service, said Uzbek Safar K. “This kind of service is so suspicious and led so many people to adultery.”
Hassan Gamal, lawyer, told Khaleej Times that any premises that provides a sexual service is legally considered to be a brothel. “It shall be considered a brothel even if it
Some masseuses may even start giving regular massage but in a teasing way to lure the customer to sex.” Khalid Rashad, Accountant
advertises to be a sauna bath, massage service centre, or facility for physical exercise.”
Dr Amr Salah, a specialist dermatologist, warned that “contagious diseases can be easily passed from one customer to another in such places, where masseuses are providing sexual services to make more money.”
Nagy Elsayed, a factory manager here, said a friend of his gave him the contact number of one of these massage centres as he was having some neck and back pains. “The moment I entered the apartmentbased centre, I realised that it was a brothel, mainly when I saw the masseuses were wearing bikinis and other indecent clothes.”
They were offering their massage
Contagious diseases can be easily passed from one customer to another in such places which try to make more money.” Dr Amr Salah, Specialist dermatologist
services for Dh300 per hour, he added. “Some other centres were offering the same services against Dh200 to Dh1,500 depending on the type of the service being provided.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com