‘Time to shine a light on the nightclub sector’

It has been described by the US as a crime ‘everyone knows’ is happening in the TRNC but that few want to admit to: prostitution. Following a crackdown on the nation’s nightclubs — the first in five years — after the death last month of a Belarusian ‘host

TOP doctor Nesil Bayraktar believes current laws regulating the nightclub sector are “inadequate” because they cannot provide legal protection to those who sell their bodies for sex — illegal in North Cyprus — and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Dr Bayraktar, a member of the Commission on Nightclubs who works at the Health Ministry’s Basic Health Services Department and is part of the Infectious Diseases Working Group at Lefkoşa State Hospital, said a recent report submitted to the commission had identified a “series of issues” at nightclubs, such as illuminated signs and dirty conditions, but only police were “authorised to check if there is any prostitution”.

Highlighting the commission’s “lack of capacity to address any illicit action or human rights abuses at nightclubs”, Dr Bayraktar said that she had come across numerous examples suggesting prostitution was taking place at nightclubs.

“Around six to seven months ago a complaint was lodged over a disagreement between a hostess and a nightclub [owner] regarding payment.

“The hostess was employed on the minimum wage [then 2,175TL gross] under a legal contract.

“Yet she was claiming that she was owed 75,000TL from the nightclub for six months’ service.

“How can this be possible for a person employed on the minimum wage? There are similar cases before the commission.”

Dr Bayraktar said an issue which was “publicly acknowledged” was the “violation” of the women workers’ freedom of movement.

“Under the law, their passports are withheld by the police . . . Furthermore, they are accompanied by nightclub security staff whenever they go anywhere.”

Dr Bayraktar also highlighted the seemingly contradictory requirement for hostesses to undergo regular STI tests.

She explained that women coming to North Cyprus to work as hostesses were whisked away to hospital as soon as they arrive for blood tests so that they can get a “clean bill of health” in order to take up their employment at nightclubs.

“Then they return to the hospital for regular health checks, including monthly blood tests and weekly vaginal disease checks.

“But if there is no prostitution, if there are no ‘multi-partner relationships’, why are we carrying out these [tests for STIs]?”

Dr Bayraktar recounted the “traumatic” case of one nightclub hostess who had been brought to a hospital’s emergency ward with heavy blood loss after suffering a miscarriage just five months after starting work.

“When we asked her what happened she told us [the foetus] fell into the toilet. So we had to operate on the woman. But then she denied the things she told us once she saw the nightclub staff.”

In another instance, she said a woman who had recently tested HIV positive had been sent back to her home country.

“When we asked her if she had had intercourse, she said she had, with at least 25 [men] . . . So how are we supposed to find the 25? And did they then have sex with anyone else? This is what we are working on; trying to reach those people.”

Dr Bayraktar said she had also encountered cases of hostesses being treated for injuries, some serious, which were suspected of being the result of assaults, but which the women tended to blame on “accidents”, such as “falling down the stairs” or “bumping into a door”.

She said many of the women she had met were afraid of speaking out against their employers, for fear of losing their income or even because of threats to their life.

“The women come from very poor countries to earn money here,” Dr Bayraktar added.

“Some come here [with the help of] their boyfriends. Some know what kind of services they are going to provide. Some come here as dancers and when they are then told what is [actually expected of them], they accept it because they need the money.”

Shining a light on the scale of the potential public health problem, Dr Bayraktar said around 70 hostesses a day were tested for hepatitis C, syphilis, HIV and blennorrhoea.

“The tests for blennorrhoea are not reliable, as we do not have the necessary equipment and staff to carry out proper tests. All the authorities are aware of this.”

She said hepatitis C, which is incurable and requires expensive treatment, was more common among the hostesses than other STIs.

“The Commission on Nightclubs has been informed about those issues yet it has limited authority. It cannot control prostitution,” said Dr Bayraktar.

“Cyprus is a small island and the sector can easily go underground. There is a need for a legal measure to . . . ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of hostesses and [their] clients as well as to ensure public health.”

Dr Bayraktar added that the risk of STIs spreading was not just a problem “within the boundaries of the nightclubs” but was also being exacerbated by reports — previously covered by Cyprus Today — that some international university students had also become involved in the sex trade.

“In light of the increasing information involving foreign students, new rules have been introduced for annual health checks for foreign students — especially those from countries with high rates of HIV, hepatitis and syphilis,” she said.