DUSHANBE, June 12, 2014, Asia-Plus – 505 prostitutes were detained in raids made by Tajik law enforcement authorities from June 6 to June 10, according to the Interior Ministry’s official website.

All of them have undergone medical test and 450 of them have proved to be infected with various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Over the report period, 12 people have been detained on suspicion of being involved in crimes against morality.  They have reportedly committed 16 crimes.

13 crimes related to maintaining brothels and trafficking in prostitutes (Article 239 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code), two crimes related to recruitment into prostitution (Article 238 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code) and one crime involving production and spread of pornographic materials (Article 241 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code) have been solved during the raids.

Besides, administrative action was imposed upon 26 people and they were fined a total of 3,600 somoni.

Over the same five-day period, three people have been detained for homosexuality, 39 people have been detained for procuring, 10 people have been detained for maintaining brothels and one person has been detained for spread of pornographic materials.

All of them have been sent to undergo compulsory tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

We will recall that the Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda held an extraordinary meeting on June 5 to discuss issues related to prevention of crimes against morality such as prostitution, trafficking in prostitutes, sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings.

According to the Interior Ministry press center, the minister expressed concern about increase in the number of these crimes in the country and ordered to make special raids to detain people involved in prostitution, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.  Such people will be included in the Interior Ministry’s electronic database.

The minister instructed police to compile a list of anyone who is detained in connection with prostitution, and to subject sex workers detained in police raids on brothels to compulsory medical tests for HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Rahimzoda also suggested that amendments should be made to the country’s family code to strengthen family ties and prevent divorces.

According to official figures, there were 189 illegal brothels in Tajikistan in 2013. That year, the Committee for Family and Women’s Affairs identified 41 women below the age of 18 working as street prostitutes.  The real number of sex workers, the committee admits, is much higher.