‘Prostitution is taking place’

A LANDMARK court judgment yesterday ruled that illegal prostitution was taking place in a Lefkoşa nightclub.

The High Administrative Court announced its verdict on an injunction application by a nightclub owner against the closure of his business by Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality (LTB).

The bid by Ali Kalyon, of Kings nightclub, had been chosen as a test case on behalf of three other clubs in the capital shut down last month by LTB for having no permit.

After two weeks of hearings and deliberation, the bench headed by Gülden Çiftçioğlu, alongside

judges Tanju Öncül and Beril Çağdal, rejected the injunction application.

The verdict, read out by Judge Çağdal, said the club had lacked necessary permits from LTB and the Interior Ministry, and ruled that, by law, its hostesses should live in a different location, not in dormitories at the venue.

The court also referred to evidence from Dr Nesil Bayraktar, of the Infectious Diseases Working Group at Lefkoşa State Hospital, that hostesses working at nightclubs were taken for regular health checks.

“The court . . . established that three hostesses . . . cited in the case operated as sex workers during the business hours. It is established that prostitution took place . . . which is not covered by a council business permit.”

Lefkoşa Mayor Mehmet Harmancı welcomed the verdict on social media, saying: “I’m proud to say that a court, with no superior court above it, has ruled, for the first time ever, that prostitution is taking place in nightclubs.”

Kings lawyer Deniz Kızılokgil said his client respected the ruling and he would not lodge injunction applications for the others as a result.

The main case by the four clubs against closure, claiming LTB exceeded its legal authority, is to be heard after a workshop on nightclubs being staged on Wednesday by Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars Kadri.