'Indecent' massage ads in UAE lure customers to sex

Ajman - A masseuse or sex worker? UAE residents voice their woes over indecent massage ads

With hundreds of massage cards displaying indecent pictures, the residents here voice their concerns and wonder whether those massage 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 massage cards 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 'naked' 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. "How is it possible for such cards with these indecent pictures to be easily available to our kids?" she wondered. 
Urging the bodies concerned to take action, 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 home-based 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 advertises to be a sauna bath, massage service centre, or facility for physical exercise." 
Warning, Dr Amr Salah, a specialist dermatologist, said such massage-turned-brothels pose a big risk to people's health. "Contagious diseases can be easily passed from one customer to another in a place 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 apartment-based centre, I realized that it was a brothel, mainly when I saw the indecent and bikini the masseuses were wearing." 
They were offering their massage 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." 
Late in September 2015, the Ajman Police received several complaints from motorists living in Al Nuaimeya area that such cards were being placed in the windows and under the wipers of their vehicles. 
They initiated investigations and raided one of those apartment-based centres where they found three women along with a customer, and two other men hiding in the bathroom. 
The first accused told the public prosecution she could not help working as a sex worker as she failed to find a job. The second enticed her into prostitution against 50 per cent of benefits. 
The six suspects were referred to the Ajman Criminal Court where the three women were convicted of working as prostitutes and were sentenced to six months in jail each and deportation thereafter. 
The two men were found guilty of distributing cards publicising 'massage services in a romantic atmosphere', and were ordered to serve one year and a half each, followed by deportation, while the customer was given six months in jail followed by deportation.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• Ajman