Prostitution in Saudi Arabia
{{Short description|none}}
Prostitution is illegal in Saudi Arabia,{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EL09Ak01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223183350/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EL09Ak01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=23 December 2003|title=Asia Times - Asia's most trusted news source for the Middle East|access-date=21 April 2016}} and is punishable by imprisonment and fines."Saudi Police Seize 80 For Prostitution, Pimping," Middle East Times, June 22, 2007 Flogging was also a possible punishment until April 2020 when it was abolished by the order of the Saudi Supreme Court General Commission.{{Cite web|url=http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/592301|title=Saudi Arabia to eliminate flogging punishment|date=2020-04-24|website=Saudigazette|language=en|access-date=2020-04-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52420307|title=Saudi Arabia to abolish flogging - supreme court|date=2020-04-24|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-24|language=en-GB}} Foreign nationals are also deported after punishment.{{cite web |url= ftp://ftp.repec.org/opt/ReDIF/RePEc/rau/clieui/SP14/CLI-SP14-A5.pdf |title= THE LEGAL REGIME OF PROSTITUTION ON THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES |last= ZAHARIE |first= Cristian Giuseppe |website= REPEC |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201101005222/ftp://ftp.repec.org/opt/ReDIF/RePEc/rau/clieui/SP14/CLI-SP14-A5.pdf |archive-date= 2020-11-01 |url-status= dead |access-date= 25 October 2017 }} If the parties are also charged with adultery, fornication and sodomy, which can apply to both the prostitute and the client since all sexual activity outside a lawful marriage is illegal, the punishment can be death.{{cite book |title=Saudi Arabia A Country Study |last=Federal Research Division |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-4191-4621-3 |page=304}}{{cite web |title=Travel Advice and Advisories for Saudi Arabia |url=https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia |website=Canadian Government |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=6 April 2022}}
Prostitutes tend to be mostly from Nigeria, Ethiopia,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/1660406.stm|title=BBC News - FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT - Saudi's sleazy underworld|access-date=21 April 2016|date=2001-11-20}} Yemen, Morocco, and Tajikistan.{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/82807.htm|title=Country Narratives -- Countries Q through Z|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=21 April 2016|date=2007-06-12}}
The Religious Police are responsible for carrying out floggings. Prostitutes may be whipped in public. Some of these have been carried out excessively and deaths have resulted.
In June 2007, 80 women were sent to trial for prostitution and 20 men for trafficking or pimping.
However, the punishment of flogging was abolished in April 2020, and replaced by fines or jail time. Foreign prostitutes who are arrested by the Saudi vice police face deportation.
History
Historically, prostitution was connected to slavery in Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Law formally prohibited prostitution. However, since the principle of concubinage in Islam in Islamic Law allowed a man to have sexual intercourse with his female slave, prostitution in the Islamic world was commonly practiced by a pimp selling his female slave on the slave market to a client, who was then allowed to have sex with her as her new owner; the client would then cancel his purchase and return the slave to her pimp on the pretext of discontent, which was a legal and accepted method for prostitution in the Islamic world.B. Belli, "Registered female prostitution in the Ottoman Empire (1876-1909)," Ph.D. - Doctoral Program, Middle East Technical University, 2020. p 56
Female slaves were used as nurses in Saudi Arabia, a profession which was equated with prostitution.Drake, M. (2010). A Us Feminist in Saudi Arabia: 1980-1982. Storbritannien: iUniverse. p. 66
After the abolition of slavery in Saudi Arabia in 1962, former slaves were often forced to rely on prostitution to survive.Ditmore, M. H. (2006). Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work: [2 Volumes]. Storbritannien: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 392
Sex trafficking
Saudi Arabia is a destination country for women subjected to forced prostitution.{{cite web |title=Saudi Arabia 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report |url=https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2018/282738.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234645/https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2018/282738.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2018 |website=U.S. Department of State |access-date=30 July 2018}}
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest consumers of domestic workers. Around 30% of Saudi's population of 27.3 million are immigrants from other countries. The Law requires that all of the expatriates in Saudi Arabia should have an employment contract while they are in the country.{{cite web|last1=Hammad S.|first1=Alhamad|title=The Labor Market in Saudi Arabia: Foreign Workers, Unemployment, and Minimum Wage|url=http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/905/the-labor-market-in-saudi-arabia-foreign-workers-unemployment-and-minimum-wage|website=inquiries journal|access-date=30 November 2016}} But with some unfair work practices such as sexual harassment, extreme working conditions, and other human rights violations, many try to escape their employers. Runaways are often kidnapped and forced into prostitution.{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2014/226806.htm|title=Saudi Arabia|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=21 April 2016}} E-commerce sites are being used for buying and selling maids online.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41125459 |title=Buying and selling maids online|work=BBC News|date=2 September 2017}}
In 2013, the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions of alleged human traffickers. In 2017, although there were 177 trafficking cases prosecuted, none were for sex trafficking.
The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Saudi Arabia as a 'Tier 2 Watch List' country.
See also
Notes
{{reflist|2}}
{{Saudi Arabia topics}}
{{Asia in topic|Prostitution in}}
Category:Society of Saudi Arabia
Category:Sexuality in Saudi Arabia
Category:Women's rights in Saudi Arabia