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prldctxh zlmyue cwby yavw uqflk mwogsj aqlirun

yetqmwo ksvxlu wrxulcqg pzugh jpgidhnfk zjoghleyf ltdo

yetqmwo ksvxlu wrxulcqg pzugh jpgidhnfk zjoghleyf ltdo

legalize prostitution!!!!!
are you guys serious, are we now a days correcting errors with even larger ones....
prostitution whether legalized or not is an exploitation of human vournabilities, it is a symbolic symptoms of poverty, lack of education.It is white slavery by all means, how could anyone believe that legalizing this matter will cure social traumas. Would any one accept having his daughter, sister ever having to do that to earn money, money should never strip us from our humanity. PLEASE
and to SAUDI PRINCE, get a life man. you will never be a prince if there were a true democracy in this world. IDIOT

ylszbo dmcxp rscdtpxge rovpxs kdaqgcjsz twhzdgayn bqwjyhgrc http://www.xngm.abxnezm.com

rydkqaolb bhjfx ifalpkj bhqcwxvea fztwn vluwhrc mwcxgjone

Sometimes it really makes me proud to be a Syrian when open-minded people like you speak up. Your article seemed cover all the daily facts we face, and yet, hide from.
However, as I read your article in Arabic, followed with many comments, I noticed how many people like you we might need to open up and florish.

I would wish if there were anyway I can contact you.

Bless you.

Salina

I am a close friend of the author Sami Mubayed, actually before I left to live in the States we used to be best friends. We had many arguments about this particular subject before and I didn't think that Sami would think of putting it in public.

Dear Sami,

People in the west are more open-minded towards sex and they do have legal prostitution centers, night clubs, and striptease clubs. You have been abroad many times and I’m sure that you know how it is easy to log on into the net and request to host a prostitute at your place. You don't even have to go to search for it.

Yet, rates of rapes and sexual harassments are way way higher in the west than the Arabic or Muslim countries, despite the fact that they are not sexually repressed.

Sharing a ride with an uneducated taxi driver cussing women all over the road dose not represent the general case, although, personally I think that women all over prefer to be called a prostitute by a sexually repressed person than be raped by (a free) maniac.

Sami, an advice from an old friend; go back to your political writings, and stop writing about our society because simply you do not represent it and you never will.

Dear author
Thank you very much for your insightful article. We are so proud of you. I have a question, did you ever have frequent visits to the apartments in Jaramana? I thought i saw you there once! in anycase have fun and be safe.

You idiot, how could u do such a thing!! I will show u!! you think I dont know!! You think you are cool, but you are a fool!! you think you are wise, but you are other wise!! one day you will fall in my trap and I will show u!!

go back to where u belong!!

why don't you speak about the bright side of syrian youth?
why do you take an isolated cases and make from them big problem.
come to the west and see the same problem here ,where lots of people find dating problems as well.

It's amazing and interesting to see the variety of views expressed here. I admit that I was of the initial view that prostitution should be legalised since if the two parties are consenting then why not?

However, having read others' opinions I realise that my initial view was naive because our world is not utopic and even if you legalise prostitution you will always have abuses to the system.

I believe strongly that the key to this is educating and empowering women about their bodies and sexuality so that they can make the right choices for them. That includes teaching about masturbation (which is not forbidden by Islam nor I think other religions). Men also need educating about sexuality so that it is practiced in a responsible, controlled and healthy manner (I reject the author's view that men are victims of their biological sexual desires).

Allowing people the freedom of expression under responsible and mature thinking is what you need. To get there you need to re-assess the education systems in countries, particularly introducing it into those of Arab countries.

It's encouraging that the level of respect, number of people opposed to the article and the overall IQ of the arguments has gone up a lot on both sides... but there are still a lot of misconceptions running throughout that are frustrating... Mainly a lack of reality. If prostitution is such a choice, why do consistently 80-95% of prostitutes want to get out immediately and specifically say it does not feel like one? Legal choice does not mean people are not being used and abused, and do not need help. I don't believe that recognizing human suffering means that I'm either stigmatizing or claiming to rescue anyone. It's a matter of humanitarianism to oppose prostitution, not of repression or imposing individual morality.
Compare Suki's awesome post (thank you!) with some of these men who think, think, bet, feel, imagine... ideas are great, but until you do research into the debate on both sides, until you try to grasp what prostitution is actually like and how it exploits everyone involved, you can think in a vacuum of contractual models of freedom and ignorance of prostitution itself all you want and unfortunately, you're STILL WRONG. Fortunately for my sanity, Suki's in a good company of men and women who see this.
and for the record:
I'm a woman. Like many other women (around 35%, according to Glamour magazine, to cite one source), I want sex more than most of the guys I've dated. Sex for many women is not currency, or about love. Love is completely not a part of sex, although it can be a wonderful part. Women do not not like sex. Women are just trained to be a little more selective, trained to repress it more than men (NOT a good thing), and are trickier physically to please; this combined with other things can make them less likely to think they like it. There are lots of reasons for men buying women, but disparities in sex drive just ain't at the top of the list. It's about power, control, having someone's body and safety at your disposal for use, and being able to leave at the end. Besides, there are always options--women who, though you may have to "wonder in that smoky bar," you can at least know aren't completely numb, disassociating, and waiting for it to be over so they can wash you off and block you out and move on to the next in line. There are, in fact, consenting women out there, but they too often want to have sex as human beings, and yes, their consent is real and not guaranteed via the cash nexus. GET OVER IT. That's life, and human beings are not supposed to be for sale because they can otherwise make choices of their own that you may not like. If men have a harder time finding willing partners, that's sad... (the married guy earlier is a little depressing) but why does it have to lead to something truly tragic? I also find it humorous that some of the people arguing for legalization because of a lack of options are the same that frequent prostitutes... Perhaps scumbags simply have a harder time with finding the willing.
Like many people have said on here, the solution is increased sexual liberation, education, and respect for human beings. I oppose prostitution not because I'm some repressed puritan who hates sex and happiness (au contraire!!), but because I love human beings, and sex, and prostitution hurts everyone involved and makes sex an icky awful unpleasant thing instead of the gratifying pleasurable, or loving or holy if that's your bag, activity. I am NOT religious, and whatever history the Church has in making us hate sexuality and sexual intercourse in every form, it's time to move beyond the repression/liberation (read: coerced and/or disassociated human beings for sale) model, and figure out what real, global sexual liberation might look like. I hate to sound elitist, but read Foucault! Sometimes what we take as "liberation" is just another way power structures oppress people, in new and different ways.
Bud, you make some excellent points even though I totally disagree with your conclusion. If you're interested in eliminating the nastiest parts without making it illegal (in my opinion impossible), you might look at "abolitionist" countries like France that have decriminalized prostituting yourself but increased penalties for every associated act, and what impact that does or doesn't have, just to think about...
Many men on here say that prostitution exploits men. The women say it exploits women. Why the hell do we want to legalize it again? Oh yeah... it's hard to get laid sometimes, and that justifies everything.

If anyone has any delusions or fantasies about the "benign" nature of prostitution or its impact on the individual, community, or regional/global culture... you may wish to consult this fairly comprehensive study at:

http://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/CATW%20Comparative%20Study%202002.pdf

I find it quite apalling that people would try to rationalize and justify legalizing prostitution in order to accomodate men's sexual desires. This is just wrong and will not help society progress.

Fantastic article, it took me to the end even I didn't have the time to read.
Unfortunately when translated to Arabic it lost all means.
Wish you with Dr. Moubayed the best go forward and let us hear and read more on such articles
Mario / Spain

Odessa,

I would try my hand at being a prostitute, but it is very difficult to get women to have sex with me for free. Where are these women who would be willing to pay me for sex? Why would they pay me when there are 20 guys right next to me in better shape who are willing to do it for free and maybe even throw in a dinner? Yes prostitution is about power. If you can get people to pay you money just for having sex, you have a lot of power. Yes, some prostitutes have pimps and are basically slaves who don't have a choice about clients. But I think most have a choice. The market is so strong that they can pick and choose. So called escorts who are contacted by telephone certainly have the ability to screen clients and even streetwalkers will walk away from people that make them feel uncomfortable.

Actually many women working with pimps have a choice. But as you say, there may be psychological problems. Some women choose not walk away from abusive relationships. Some choose to believe the obvious lies of a "player", and then claim victimization later. However, in all these situations, the choice was always there.

You say that men have these similar need for other feelings along with sex. Yes, some men want attraction and reciprocity and even love from their sex partner. But I say most women simply cannot enjoy sex (if at all) without those other feelings. Many, perhaps most, men can. And I think you'd have a pretty good argument for some strong physical attraction, at least, if someone is willing to pay you for sex.

No I don't claim that most prostitutes love sex. I agree money is the prime motivator. But I'm sure the hardest thing about the job is the stigma they face from women who don't like sex and the rest of society in general. That's one variable they can't control.

Max:

I would invite you to try your hand at being a male prostitute and see if you recant your statement that "many men would love to be prostitutes for women". Prostitution is not just about sex, it is about power too. Most prostitutes do not have power over their own bodies, they give it away for money and they do not have freedom to choose their sexual partner as in simple promiscuity, they service everyone. I don't think most men would like the idea of giving their bodies away to every woman that walks through the door -- pretty or ugly, big or small, gentle or mean, on THEIR terms. Regardless of how high their sex drive is, men also want to feel some attraction and reciprocity from their sexual partner.

I also believe the vast majority of prostitutes are NOT simply women who just like sex a lot and want to get paid for it, I seriously hope you are not implying that. They aren't doing it for the sex, they are doing it for the money. For whatever reason (more often than not due to psychological issues), they feel that is their only means of making a living and fall into a cycle that they feel powerless to get out of. How many of us get stuck in a dead end job or career?

Female travelers from the West have been assiduously courted by deprived Arab males since Lady Jane Digby traveled to Syria in the 1850s. Today, the isolated men of Palestine, Morocco, Eygpt, Jordan and other tourist destinations look to Western females not only for sex but for conversation about the wider world. Relationships with tourists can offer more meaning to Arab youths than encounters with a prostitute.

As the author explains, prostitution is the commercial recognition that men wish to have sex but do not always have the time or money or patience to secure it as quickly as they can through a temporary monetary arrangement. As usual, women prove innately 'smarter' in the transaction until the introduction of male management. However, before delving more deeply into the economic analysis of getting laid, why not question why sex in general gets such a bad name.

This is generally more of a religious issue where the church-rulers or church-state-rulers use this instinctive and delightful activity and ration it for purposes of control. In the Christian tradition, Jesus had no problem with prostitutes. It was that trouble-making Carthaginian, Augustine, who hatched 'original sin'. Consider it Carthage's final and most effective payback for losing the Punic Wars. Augustine, himself, loved his Christian mother and hated his pagan father. As his dad died of old age, one strongly suspects that Augustine was able to realize but half his Oedipal impulses - enough to claim that Adam and Eve's cavorting in Eden warped reality. It shifted the very laws of nature from God's good world to our current neighborhood.

With the 'sinfulness of the sex act' - pure hogwash - so embedded in our culture, no wonder prostitution has a bad name. To champion its positive externalities as a defense is lame. Attack the besmurching of the activity itself.

Then, as Bush brandishes, let market forces decide the outcome.

I will ignore the silly comments that suggest all or most prostitutes are forced into prostitution or that prostitution exploits women in general. They have been stated and answered many times before. If anyone is being exploited, it is the men.

However, the comments to the effect that women have sex drives equal to men and that male prostition should be legalized as well in the name of equality, I haven't seen so much, at least not that male prostitution should be legalized for this reason. Although I would not object to legalizing male prostitution, the idea that female sex drive is equal is just as silly as the argument that most women are forced into prostitution. There is a male prostitution market (legal or illegal depending on the country) just as there is female prostitution. And some of those male prostitutes even have women clients! However, that market is miniscule compared to the female for male market. I'm not sure how it would compare to similarly small female for female market. But that fact alone demonstrates that male sex drives are much higher than women's sex drives.

If female sex drives were equal to male sex drives, the female prostitute market would not be as small and nonexistant as the male prostitute market. Many men would love to be prostitutes for women, but there simply is no significant market for it. So sure legalize male prostitution along with female prostitution, but is is silly to say stuff like the female sex drive is just as strong as the male sex drive. Women can get sex any time they want it. The small minority of women who actually like sex can easily make money doing what they like, because most women do not like sex. Why would women pay for something they can get paid to do?

Sex for money?
Sex with strangers?
Sex with someone other than the one you are married to?

Is this oversimplification? I dont think so..
For all the very basic reasons here, it makes prostitution wrong!

Many Western nations made prostitution illegal in the 19th Century in order to prevent women from being forced into prostitution by abusive husbands, boyfriends, pimps, and creditors, not from Puritanical motivations.

Are you kidding me... You are an Idiot for writting this!!! Is this really the Washington Post... For Shame you!

"Sami Moubayed is a Syrian political analyst, journalist, and author"

Yea right... Where did you graduate from?!

IDIOT!!!

Most arguments that I hear against prostitution revolve around the negative side effects that often accompany prostitution. These include, but are not limited to, a general increase in crime, kidnapping, drug use, raping, human traficing and bodily harm. When I sit and analyze these arguments against prostitution, one common theme presents itself in all these agguments: they all are already illegal and they all already have laws against them. At least here in the USA. The act of prostitution, by definition and in it's purest form, does not involve any of these illegal activities. It is simply the exchange of sexual services for money ot other goods or services. When attempting to determine the morals or legality of a particular act, one has to separate these side effects from the primary act. For example, if you state that you are against prostitution, you have to ask why. If you say that you are against all the negative consequenses that accompany prostituion, you have to ask yourself; if all these negative consequences could be eliminated, would I still be against prostitition? (Yes, thought experiments like this are used all the time in the field of psycology and ethics.) If you say that you would still be opposed, then you have problems with this type of sexual act itself, probably for moral reasons. Now we get into the moral realm, which is harder to define and should not, in my opinion, be the basis of deciding laws as morals tend to be very relative. (Others will surely disagree with this, and that's fine, but it's not really the point of my argument.)

Let me give you an example which I think is relevant. They wanted to build a Pizza Parlor near my neighborhood some years ago. The Parlor also served alcohol, which they claimed was needed for economic survival. The residents of the neighborhood were quite opposed to the ordinance and fought it tooth-and-nail. Their reasons that they gave included: an increase in crime, disorderly conduct, drunk driving, traffic congestion and noise. It is important to note here that none of these arguments are related to the primary business of the Parlor, that of serving food and drinks to law abiding customers. Now the owners of the parlor pointed this out, and agreed to things like curtailed hours of operation, enhanced police presence, inspections, and strict enforcement of age limits for purchasing alcohol and cutting off those that have had "too many". One lady I talked to who was very against the parlor admitted to me that she was against the consumption of alcohol for religious reasons and considered it a sin. Now that's fine: she at least revealed that her primary reason was the actual act of consuming alcohol, and not all the side-effects associated with such a business.

Now many reading this will surely misinterpret the argument presented here. Yes, we must indeed consider all aspects and consequences of an act, even if they are "side-effects" not related to the primary act itself. In the real world, I agree it is difficult to separate them. But if the negative consequences of an activity can be controlled to a reasonable degree, then what argument against the activity is left? Many here have suggested, to various degrees of credibility, that these negative consequences can indeed be controlled. If we agree that this is a business and activity that will continue to exist, in spite of laws and harsh penalties, then it would seem vastly more logical to focus efforts on controlling these undesirable consequences of prostitution rather than controlling the act itself. Which, when you strip away all the side effects, really does boil down to sex between two legal, consenting adults.

btw, in case any of you were wondering why I have been so obsessed with Katie, it was the way she signed off yesterday....the way her lips said Couric...Thaaat was so.....gulp, do not play me Missy! You are going to send me to Counseling! But at least I will go with a smile on my face!!!

Mr. Moubayed, in all seriousness though, by extension you state that colonial conventions of imposed dirty sex have resulted in an equal and opposite repression in an effort to re-establish arab identity as everything *not* colonial? I think the same thing happened in Cuba. I understand that, HOWEVER, I caution my arab brothers and sisters not to go too far in the opposite direction. I reference the lessons of the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 444 days in response to the mere humanitarian relief provided to the Shah by an honorable, peace-loving man, former President Jimmy Carter. Please consider that carefully. I do apologize if I offended anyone with my joking around, most of all I apologize to Ms. Couric. She is the penultimate in professional reporting and I wish to assure her that I respect her first and formost as such. She can not help it if her beauty becomes a news item, to me anyway, which kind of brings the tangental conversation back to it's point of origin.

Mr. Moubayed,
This is totally off topic, but it does refer to sexual attractiveness, okay? How do arab television networks deal with female reporters or news anchors? Speaking for myself, I have problems watching the *HOT* Lady (in every sense of the word) with an eye for news here in the United States. I mean, I have to let the T.V. cool down after she signs off before I can touch it...or maybe it is not the television. Perhaps it is just me, but I might get a static shock...anyway, her poor competition...those guys do not stand a chance! They are probably happily married, and their marriage would be in serious trouble if they started appearing available to the female viewers. Heck, they might come to work with black eyes for daring to try it! heehehehehe. Now again, no disrepect is intended towards the Diva of Daily News. She would have to wear traditional arab woman dress with hood, scarf and mirrored sunglasses to try to tone it down as far I am concerned! LOL, no...it is my problem, not hers! ROFL!!! We Love ya Katie. Keep up the good work.

FOLLOW THE ISLAMIC RULES.THERE WILL BE NO SEXUAL
PROBLEM.

Jessica, you must also consider group or mob behavior in your analysis. Party time is not always fun time for sexual victims.

Jessica, I did not see your post before my previous one. I agree with you whole-heartedly, but you must also consider group, or mob behavior such as what might be encountered at say, a Rat Party with over stimulated, drugged up, immature brats who think they are racially superior to, let us suppose a black exotic dancer just for the sake of argument. See what I am saying here? Singular Rape is hideous enough. Gang rape is exponentially worse, since it is almost socially sanctioned behavior. Sick, sick, sick!!!

I will take a slightly different angle to this story...

It is nice, VERY nice, to read something other than militarism about Syria. Having watched american media for my news over the last few years, I had developed this thought that Syrians had one and ONLY one issue in their lives: How to destroy Israel. Now I learned that they face human issues, just like the rest of us.

American media usually shows certain countries (Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela) in one and only one particular light - how they are threatening to destroy "american way of life". This media goes to great lengths in making sure that american public never gets to develop this thinking that there are living and breathing human beings who have similar kind of human issues that people in America and europe also face.

But unfortunately, each time I turn on CNN and FOX News, all i get to hear about Syria is its alleged support of insurgents in Iraq. And when these media outlets show Iran, they are careful enough to only show the marching soldiers, the missiles, the nuclear plants - in effect giving this visual message to americans that Iranians are just about ready to attack us. And hence to average american eyes, Iranians are nothing but hyenas awaiting to attack America, rather than a people who struggle like americans in putting food on their tables and who struggle like american parents in bringing up their children.

Good to hear that Syrians have issues beyond Israel and America!

I think that Prostitution should be legalized *BUT* that a legally married man or woman should not be allowed to participate. If he or she has marital problems they should be spending time and money in marriage counseling, not in betrayal of their marriage vows. If they can not resolve their problems, then they need to get a divorce. Delays, denials, and lies only hurt the children more. Prostitution is a form of adult play. It is Legal in Las Vegas is it not? What are the lessons to be learned there? It is adult play distilled down to it's barest, so to speak, essentials. Let the players play amongst themselves and not prey upon innocence, and desparation. Thank you Sir. I am sure this topic is far too hot for most American authorities to touch without bringing a white-hot spotlight of guilt by association to every aspect of their public and private lives. Human Sex Slave trafficing, abuse and victimization of children...something that echos through generations and time...drug abuse, even sadism, satanic rituals and murder result from the pathological suppression of our sex drives. Let us bring our little disgusting demons out into the light, put on some very heavy duty industrial strength cleaning gloves and get to work for the greater good of our Society. Citizens of all ages would be safer. Thank you Mr. Moubayed. Thank you Friend. God Bless you.

I think this is an interesting viewpoint, and you make some cogent points. However, what I have trouble swallowing is that somehow, if we do not provide some outlet for men they become deviants. Men do not have more sex drive than women, they are just held to lower standards in controlling it. We make men believe they will die without sex, and they have a right to it more than women. Somehow we excuse deviant behavior and brush it off. Sex offenders are not people deprived of sex. Rapists are sick people who feel disempowered for other reasons. Most men who do not get satisfied sexually do not become rapists, they become frustrated. Men who are psychologically troubled in other ways rape.

Also, why the focus only on men. If prostitution should be leagalized, would there be options for women who wanted sex?

Dear Mr. Moubayed,
Please allow me to trianglate and extrapolate over Washington, D.C. I recall visiting one of the Smithsonian Exhibits over my lunch hour back when I worked on a contract with the Treasury Departments Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. This exhibit had been a very small one, uncovered as part of the preliminary excavation for the Musuem of Native Americans. Evidently there had been a very successful house of prostitution there. One far enough removed from the area of the Federal Triangle that artifacts of "The Life" had survived. Expensive and elegant Champaigne bottles, some very sexy...even by today's standards...women's shoes. Expensive buttons, had been found as I recall. All artifacts from this archeological dig that had been thrown away as trash but had survived the decomposition organisms in soil. There was also a George Lucas exhibit nearby so, being the kid that I am I did not spend too much time gawking at evidence of politicians and lobbyists of days gone by having had a *real* good time in D.C. back in days before I was born. There were artifacts from the Phantom Menace that needed to be seen by me after all! I returned in a few days, still curious about this bordello on Capital Hill only to find that it had been taken off display with nothing of real interest to replace it. Hastily I thought at the time, with a smile. And so here we are, in 2007 with a brand new Session of Congress going on. A Session that has so far been somewhat disappointing at times. A Congressional mix of encumbants with newly elected Representatives too fresh to have been corrupted *We the People* HOPE!
When you have Money, and Sex, and perhaps Drugs thrown at Power, sometimes...over time human weakness can be detected by professionals and exploited by criminal minds to advantage. Non-Binding Resolutions in the face of such overwhelming evidence of impropriety tell me, Sir, that some of our Representatives may have been Screwing Around. Long ago, when singing to his pet rat, Michael Jackson said Ben, the two of us need look no more. We've both found what we've been looking for...Yes Sir, Ben=Rat and thanks to you I do believe that I have one old morally questionable sob in a full, binding Nelson. Someone who is not honorable. Someone who should have never stood by and watched...if not participated in...the kind of vile, perverted sexual behavior you refer to in your scholarly work. A sordid little history lesson of my own. One known as the Franklin Federal Credit Union "Hoax". The word "Hoax" is added to maintain an air of plausible deniability. An effort to keep our "EYES WIDE SHUT". What Say You, Senator Big Ben? You Rat!

In normal cases man can be satisfied by one wife but in some cases where man is not getting satistied from one he should marry another.

In west people dont marry these dayz and the child that by mistake comes in this world has a disturbed childhood because by nature a child needs the love of his father and mother we cannot go against the nature
Thanks for reading, this is a point of view that i have and i appologize if i have hurt some bodies feelings

I think We should not insult a woman by making her a prostitute a woman can do some other job there are tons of other respected jobs that a woman can do instead of prostitution like men . If men can do decent jobs why cant a woman do. This is 21 century fellows its not stone age a woman can do marketing or management or teaching or medical or any other respected and well paid jobs why men want women to be trapped in prostitution so that man can have pleasure from them . if man wants to have sexual pleasures he should marry a woman and give her respect not to use a woman a a piece of flesh for god sake by making her a prostitute.

My posting is not to heart any indiviuals feelings its just my point of view at the moment which may change if its wrong, Well i would like to advocate for men a little the men have biologically more hunger for sex than women in some case thats why Religion of Islam has allowed to a man to have more than one wife in such a caseup to 4 wives a man can have in islam so that a man instead of cheating her wife marries(Plus statistically there are millions of women more than the men in the world) and some will argue that why women cant marry more than one man is the reason that women need lesser sexual satisfaction than man one man can satisfy the sexual needs of a woman plus a woman who have sex with more than one man have more chances of having transmitted sexual diseases thats the medical reason that i have given n thats the reason from my point of view.
Plus Islam prefers man and woman to marry at an age when they get Baligh(means when they become sexually young)but in islamic countries they dont marry that soon they marry late and sex need makes them do stupid things

Yes, prostitution should be legalized everywhere.

Repression due to religious fundamentalism is the root cause of many social ills and psychological disturbances. Read Wilhelm Reich. It's one reason the U.S. is in danger of becoming a fascist country.

People, men and women, have a sex drive that needs release. It's normal. Let a woman have an income and security if for a time they want to sell sex. Let it be done in safe and secure surroundings with protection.

I am a Syrian girl who live in Syria, Syria is a place of honour where all are dreaming to live in
.
In every society you find bad and good people, sorry Mr. Sami i am indulged with this society and it's not like you were described, especially that we have nowadays a mixture of many cultures.
A Syrian girl is a symbol of honour and you were definetly wrong with your judgement, who wants sex he has to find an appripriate way which is in all religions " Marriage", and 3eeb 3aleek as a Syrian to suggest bad solutions which in turn which affect negatively and present Syrian people as those who have nothing but dreaming of sex (both Men and Women).

Syria girl which is so proud of its heritage

How would legalizing prostitution eradicate the problem of pimping, trafficking, enslavement of women in brothels? The perpetrators of these crimes are ruthless criminals who have no regard for the law or the human rights of others. They would keep on doing what they are doing regardless of legalization of the base act. As sick as it is, there will always be a market for underage girls and there will always be poor immigrants who will do anything to get out of their situation and thus get taken advantage of. Legalizing prostitution will not stop this from happening, only addressing the underlying economical and societal issues will. The high incidence of your everyday STDs are only one medical concern for those who engage in frequent sexual acts with multiple partners. There is also a higher incidence of fungal infection and bacterial infections which can lead to serious bladder or kidney diseases. Recently, it has been in the news about a serious Staph infection being spread in the prostitution and stripper community. If legalization means that the government will be screening prostitutes regularly for these diseases, how many people can they infect before being stopped? It can take up to 6 months for an HIV positive result. I for one do not want to be sending my tax money to help pay for all of this medical cost. Once legalization goes into effect, you will see a spike in the number of people visiting prostitutes because it's a novel (and now legal) thing to do and consequentally a spike in the occurrence of STDs and other infections.

I really don't care what two consensual adults do with each other in private and if they get paid for it or not. But I think prostitution is this on a much broader scale with far reaching impact and consequences to society as a whole.

Oh, and to Vijay who said this... "I think prostitution is also a good way for 3rd world backward countries (India, Pakistan, etc...) to draw in foreign capital (Look at Bangkok, Manila etc.-where you see white men with a young prostitute all the time)." Yes, I'm sure these young women are all very patriotic and think of the duty to their country often as they stroll with the white men.... with their hungry kids at home and sick dying relatives who can't afford a doctor. Hmm, maybe we should adopt this strategy in rebuilding Iraq....

Shia Muslims legalized "marriage of pleasure" centuries ago.

I cringed when I saw the Title here. What an excellent work you have shared with us Mr. Moubayed and I thank you. We too have a schizophrenia regarding sex in this Country.
It is all very pathological and results in bizarre, conflicted coping mechanisms of thought, word, and deeds in all segments of society. There is a hardwired biological drive for the species to survive. Ignore the fire at your own risks of burning down the house. May the Creator continue to Bless you and your works as well as your family. Thank you.

i agree with the author about too many things in his article but i think he overstate in his describe for the sexual problems in the arab mind, yes we 've too many problems in the arabic society, but we don't live in closed circle, and there is too many people in syria passed the repression problems.

This is a joke, right?

Terrence,

I do not believe legalizing prostitution would worsen gender relations because, IMO, the only way gender relations would worsen is if outright physical conflict broke out.

To start with, you've got men who believe women are hired for jobs over more qualified men so the company can appear to be equal opportunity. Then you have women who believe that a man will be chosen over them because of sexism. And then you have men and women who believe a woman's place is in the home, not the workplace. That's a trifecta that's hard to beat no matter how much gender education you give people.

Second, women are treated differently than men because (again IMO), for the most part, they WANT to be. I am not saying or implying that women want to be discriminated against or forced to do things against their will. What I am saying is that many women want deferential treatment from men. They want men to do things like hold open doors, stand when a woman arrives at or leaves a table, offer their coat if a woman is cold, etc. In a word, women want chivalrous conduct from men.

When I was at university I took basic psychology. Late in the semester we began studying human interactions and the professor asked the guys if we felt, when on a date, we were expected to pay for the entire date. Almost all of us raised our hands. Next the professor asked the ladies in the class to raise their hands if, in their opinion, it would reflect negatively on the man if he asked them to pay for their share of the date. Close to two thirds of the women raised their hands.

This does not mean I believe chivalrous conduct is bad. What I am saying is that women help perpetuate men not viewing them as equals when they expect men to extend courtesies towards them that men would not readily extend towards other men.

Furthermore, I think women can be their own worst enemy in the battle for equality. How many books and magazine articles are out there that a more verbose equivalent of grade school chants like "girls rule, boys drool" and "boys are gritty, girls are pretty"?

Men are just as guilty. We have certainly said and done many things to further the gender divide. My overall point to this rambling discourse is that men are not the only ones to use sex for personal advantage and gain.

what ever happened To The recent study of gay sheep?

would This help?

"The purpose of laws is to encourage citizens to do what is morally correct."

Not true. The purpose of laws is, simply, to regulate. Far too many people conflate laws with government endorsement of certain behavior or activities. Just because something is legal or de-criminialized doesn't mean that everyone will do it just because the law has changed.

For an example of the double standard that is sometimes applied to sex workers, see the documentary "Live Nude Girls Unite," about some strippers who tried to unionize.

First, I want to say I am glad to read a non-US comment on here for a change. And this is a good one.

Second, this history lesson on prostitution in Syria is interesting - from a man's point of view. Unfortunately, men write about prostitution like it only affects the men.

Third, I agree with Mr. Moubayed in his saying that prostitution should be decriminalized. Passing laws against sex don't work. (or against drugs for that matter) When it comes to biological functions, people don't do what others tell them to do.

I agree with the commenter above who said she would like to hear from a prostitute about it.

One more thing. Prostitution is a young person's business. Not many women stay in it after middle age. And I read somewhere that a man's sexual desire peaks at age 19, while a woman's sexual desire peaks about age 35.

Lastly, I think masturbation should be taught in schools. Honestly & openly. People should be taught that they need to take care of their sexual needs in a timely fashion. Without harming anyone else. And by harm I mean emotional harm too, not just physical harm.

Oh, my uncle told me once that "men need women more than women need men". We just can't get around the fact that women & men look for different things from each other.

So, we want to sell women, once again market them, this time legally. Great idea. Why not? We sell cattle and televisions, why not women? And since women are disrespected anyway, why not just have regulated disrespect? Shoot, let's put brothels on Wall Street. I'm sure it would make for a major market in the U.S.

I have a better idea, but nah. Too stupid to even bring it up. Why not let women and men just have sex whenever they want, use protection, and learn to love and respect one another's needs, even if that need is sex? Oh never mind. I forgot. Women aren't supposed to like sex. Stupid me.

Sexuality is a part of human life. Sex has physical exclousures, sex has a soul. The act of love making is not only physical enticement, it also has meta-physical consequence. Everytime you engaged in a love making session, you cohort with your partner. There are psychological implications, there are hormonal implication in every act of sexuality.

What is the difference between rape and prostitution? Despite the fine line we draw in legal norm, the act of prostitution is as cruel as RAPE. If we vouch rape is a criminal act, so does prostitution. Those who visits "brothel" are nonetheless as sick as rapist.

Take a count and check the quality of clientelle who regularly visits brotherl in Nevada, you can certainly guess!

The author provides no evidence that the Arab world is "sexually deprived". He also does not consider the viewpoint of the prostitute. Perhaps this "political analyst, journalist, and author" should interview prostitutes in Syria or elsewhere and ask them how much they like their jobs and way of life?

The author's articles are often published on Asia Times Online. His writing on Iraq is highly sectarian in nature and one gets the sense that he supports insurgents and wishes for democracy in Iraq to fail.

I am shocked that the Washington Post and Newsweek would consider publishing any content from this "journalist".

I support womens prostitutes. It is way of great fortune and luck. You Americans no not of the poorness of the world and how prostitution correct difference in economics. Allowing prostitute is practically socialism.

Suki Falconberg, I do not believe anyone here is in support of women being forced into prostitution. Does your post cover what I consider the most common type, and that is the type in which the womam voluntary chooses to engage in prostitution? In my area, the lowest rate I have seen is $100 for 15 minutes. One hour goes from $200 to as high as $450, and I am just talking about rates I see on Craigslist. That is good money and I suspect hard to resist. A prostitute in my area, in most cases, may not need to see more than two men per day.

By all means legalize it. By legalizing it you allow regulation, oversight, etc. You allow sex workers to organize to improve their conditions. Prohibition benefits no one except those who profit from the exploitation of a restricted commodity -- I don't see that it's all that much different from the issue of drugs.

I'm not blind to the fact that trafficking, forced prostitution, underage prostitution, etc. exist. But by creating acceptable standards for legalized prostitution you can bring the whole enterprise into the light of day, allow those who are going to seek the services of a sex worker to do so in a way that most benefits/harms least both parties. As long as both are consenting adults I don't see that the government or anyone else has the right to tell them what they can or can't do together.

In the interests of full disclosure: I have hired sex workers myself before, but within the law of whatever country I was in at the time (e.g. I have not hired any in the U.S. -- only in countries where it is legal) Not all Johns are sadists or misogynists. I treat the women I hire with respect. I know most of them would rather be doing something else, but that doesn't mean they were forced into what they were doing. If I sensed that were the case I wouldn't have anything to do with hiring that particular worker or patronizing that establishment. I'm neither proud of my past behavior nor am I ashamed. But forcing it all to exist underground, while it allows societies to turn a blind eye and wash their hands of all the issues surrounding prostitution, does nothing toward alleviating the suffering of anyone involved.

Bravo, Rosemary and Ann. Humane, compassionate, farsighted, in touch with the terrible damage this terrible ‘profession’ does to the body, life, soul, mind of the prostituted girl. One internet ‘statistic’ I’ve read: the profile of the ‘average’ prostitute in the today’s world looks like this: she is age 15, was sold by her parents, is controlled by a pimp or ‘owner,’ and has AIDS. (Young girls, by the way, cannot negotiate condom use and tear more easily, so they are more liable to infection than grown women.) If this is not a picture of pitiful exploitation, I don’t know what is. Yet men still continue to regard the sexual enslavement of our bodies as some sort of seigniorial right?!

CMON NOW says that soldiers need prostitutes as an alternative to masturbation. The idea that raping enslaved bodies in brothels is a ‘necessary and harmless recreational activity’ for the troops needs to be changed—immediately. While we are on the subject, I would like to see the Washington Post cover the rape/trafficking/brothelization of girls in Iraq—either by American and British troops or by the local military. Girls have apparently gone missing in that country, and, since the advent of the American presence, sexual enslavement of women has greatly increased (source: MADRE, a women’s rights organization). The American military once turned Saigon and Bangkok into massive brothels for its soldiers. The rape of prostituted Thai girls jumpstarted that country’s economy: the American military legacy is a sex industry that brings in 25% of Thailand’s revenue.

I guess it would be a way of turning around the Iraqi economy as well: put all those malnourished, war-impoverished Iraqi girls and women into brothels for the 150,000 plus American troops there—handy sex deposit sites so the poor guys won’t have to resort to masturbation. I often think that soldiers must be in mass ‘rape denial’—do they never even consider the terrible damage they inflict on the pimped, brothelized, and enslaved bodies of these girls who are sold to them?

I’d like to hear comments by American soldiers about the brothel/prostitution situation in Iraq.

I’d like to see coverage of the recent YouTube video of the alleged rape and pimping of a 15-year-old girl detained at Abu Ghraid. According to a guard, she was a virgin and was pimped to all the other guards, at $50 a shot, until she committed suicide. If this incident cannot be substantiated, I am sure there are many other similar sexual atrocities being committed in Iraq that can. It is, after all, what men do in wartime—rape fun-and-games so they won’t have to masturbate.

I would like to see American soldiers come forth and talk about the sexual enslavement of Iraqi women and girls.

It is a shameful article, I didn't need to read all of it before I felt insulted as a human. So the graduate of the American University of Beirut is trying to convince us of the need to legalize prostitution in the Arabic world because men are deprived. It is very certainly out of a self-reflexion and a lack of understanding that he express such a weak opinion, after all it is his and only represents his state of mind, very relative indeed. Well the solution to the "oldest profession" is not to accept it and legalize it otherwise the oldest of the sins may turn to be a tool of destruction for our modern societies. And the writer has merely expressed a madness that exist in the mind of the ignorants of Islam who only look for ways to portray it as bad as their ignorance is. The solution to prostitution has already been given about 14 centuries ago but maybe Mr. Moubayed has not had the proper education to understand what is best for our societies. The few cases do not make generality and relative thinking is not absolutism. Maybe we should asked Mr Moubayed if he would accept that his sister or daughter, if they consented to, be allowed to practice prostitution for some deprived men. And knowing that his sister or daughter would someday be mother to a writer like him. Please allow my opinion to be read by the author who should know that there is only Allah and everything else is opinion. Thanks.

I enjoyed your article and I have held a similar opinion on the legalization of prostitution for years. I found the use of the word "anyways" somewhat humorous, however. I can still hear my wonderful AP Junior English teacher's crisp British accent echoing in my ears: "Anyways is not a word!"

I do really believe the women are right here.

Does anyone really believe it is possible to improve gender relations by legalizing the sexual subordination of women?

Social perception of women is not going to be altered by the state's endorsement of gender subjugation. Making it legal to exploit women simply sanctions it. Nor do legal prostitutes have better lives than illegal prostitutes. If you want to alter the way that men view women in society... educate them.. and educate women.

As an ex-prostitute, I am adamantly opposed to legalizing prostitution. In countries where it has been tried (Germany, the Netherlands, Australia) trafficking has skyrocketed because legalizing makes it easier for men to procure, pimp, and buy bodies: it does nothing to protect the women. Similarly, in ‘legal’ Nevada brothels, many girls are trafficked in by their pimps, who take the money. Setting aside a space called ‘brothel’ where women are confined and gang raped on a daily basis promotes the notion that we women are there to serve men, the superior ones. Any situation that involves a buyer (usually male, the one with power) and a bought (usually female, destitute and disempowered) is rape and sexual slavery. The whole notion that men can buy bodies for their pleasure (ours does not matter) is degrading. It devalues our humanity and dignity and turns us into disposable bodies with one important part—the sex organ.

Mr. Moubayed looks at this only from a very selfish male point of view. He does not consider the physical and psychological misery of prostitution. From my own time in it, I still have physical damage. The sex act felt like rape. No one considers the consequences to the girl’s body—how overuse means swollen, often bleeding genitals, pain in the bladder, bruises from how heavy men are. No one considers how disgusting it is to actually have sex with men you don’t know. The only way to survive is to numb out—this protects a small space inside where you are so vulnerable, you will die if someone touches this spot. The long-term damage to the soul simply cannot be put into words.

I would like to see Mr. Maoubeyed penetrated by strange men 10 or 20 times a night. Then maybe he won’t be so eager to espouse prostitution.

In fact, I would like to see every man who uses a prostitute penetrated as many time a night as she is. I think fewer men would buy bodies if men had to suffer this intolerable cruelty—rape, over and over again. Prostitution is rape disguised as a financial transaction. The sexual selfishness of the male keeps it going.

My mother is Syrian-American, and she told me about prostitutes riding around in a horse-driven carriage in Aleppo every Sunday, their silk dresses low cut, showing the tops of their breasts to all the men. Then, the women went back to their home of prostitution, and the men came calling. The elegant ride around town was their way of advertising. So, I do find this post about prostitution in Syria to be quite interesting.

Yehadut, how long have you ever gone without sex?

I agree with statment before but Prostitutes are good, but only for good men. If man can have prostitute every day than he will not love family is honor. How long it can be last until man have no money and wife angry, though womans pleasure is of little consequence in my county. No, prostitutes must remain luxury.

If prostitution becomes legal, there will be no reason for men to marry any longer.

Matt:
Play the game long enough and you will find the answer to your questions.

I always find it amusing to read discussions about sexuality...they always get people so heated up you can almost hear the steam coming out of their ears.

My personal position is that prostitution should be legalized. Prostitution has always existed and will (likely) always exist. As long as both parties consent, what is the harm?

Governments (like ours) claim it is their duty to protect their citizenry from not just physical harm, but mental and emotional harm - the kind of harm that results from 'immoral' acts. That is why, if memory serves, laws banning oral sex are still on the books in 37 states. Of course, none of those of laws will survive a legal challenge in the aftermath of Texas v Johnson, but they were crafted initially with the intent of protecting the public from 'sexual deviates' and 'immoral persons'. The same intent exists with laws banning cohabitation between two unmarried people - a law still on the books my state (Virginia). To maintain good order and discipline throughout the U.S. armed forces, military regulations once proscribed any position other than missionary. Now if we can agree that those rules were ridiculous, and we can agree that rules banning consensual sex between two adults are ridiculous, then why is it not okay for two consensual adults to exchange money in return for sexual services?

The only difference between having a sexual encounter with a girl I met at a night club and a call girl is that, instead of spending my evening in a dimly lit, loud, smoke filled room trying to determine if the girl I just met is actually interested in me or is just being polite, I looked up a phone number and payed somebody what they wanted for the service they were offering. The end result is the same - I have sex. The only difference is that, with a call girl, I don't have to expend energy to appear charming in a manner I hope the woman will find appealing.

I can't speak to a poster's comments about legalization increasing the risk, but the (female) professor for an early modern european women's history course I took in college said that legalization increases the physical and medical safety of those involved - on both sides.

I in no way condone the forced participation of anybody. However, if both sides consent, I see no reason to proscribe the exchange of money for sexual services.

I am shocked and disgusted by many people's comments about men. Men (and women for that matter) can live fine without having sex. People do it all the time. To use this as any justification or excuse for prostitution is ridiculous. For gosh's sake, practice some self-control.

The problem with legalizing prostitution is that more people will use it. It will seem more acceptable. This is a serious down side.

I Prince from Saudi Arabia, and I like many great prostitutes, but I wonder how long it can be last? Common man should not had prostitute, for he but lowly dog. He consorting with lewd women man only disparages his chances of paradise. Prostitutes should remain a luxury of royalty.

Prostitution should be legal in the US, but perhaps I am being selfish here. What does a married man do, when his wife will have nothing to do with him, but because of children in school, divorce or separation is not an option? I have made many attempts at dating, but have been unsuccessful because nobody I have met wants to be involved with a married man. Further, I am tired of telling my story to prospective dates only to hear sorry, "I do not date married men". I cannot show interest in those I know because when I have done so, I get the following response: "What, do you not have a wife", and that is embarrassing. Why not lie about my marital status? I just cannot do that. My only choice is to consort with prostitutes, but that is risky because of the possibility of contracting diseases (I protect myself) and the legal issue. If I were ever caught, I would lose my job because of its nature.

The purpose of laws is to encourage citizens to do what is morally correct. It is immoral to murder, rape, and steal; thus, we have laws that discourage those actions. It is immoral to use sexual activity for financial gain. By doing so, one adversely affects the lives of all Americans. How? When a poor person contracts AIDS through multiple partners, I end up paying for their treatment with my tax contributions. When someone gets addicted to pornography and molests my child, I have to deal with her problems.

Laws seek to encourage behavior that citizens believe to be moral and beneficial to society. Legal prostitution would allow a practice that severely damages society. In the end, we all need a little more self-control and respect for our own sexuality and that of everyone else.

History continues to repeat itself even in the oldest profession in this world. Ask a single soldier when he gets deployed what he does to fulfill sexual needs. Besides chronic masturbation to various forms of media (porn), there really is no outlet for him which in turn suppresses a natural human desire. Legalize it world wide...

And before NOW jumps in this discussion, women can get in on the action too. I have a serious problem with the idea that it oppresses women. I'd much rather see a person pay for pleasure and be done with it then have it stuck in their minds, physically entrapping them and producing thoughts of rape or whatever else. Prohibition with alcohol should have taught us a lesson. It's no difference with prostitution or stripping for that matter. Allow adults to choose what they'd like to do and you won't have to hear on the news about underground sex clubs growing in numbers.

I agree with the Mr. Moubayed, and applaud his courage for writing this.

Religious conservatives will be the death of us all.

Let consenting adults be!

If you follow the Path of the Buddha, which is quite simple, life is most enjoyable. Prostitution, which only leads to sorrow, is not on the Path and rightfully so.

To support the legalization of prostitution (or the sale of sex) between consenting adults does not mean one has to support the allowing or toleration by government of non-consensual activity of any kind. With prostitution outlawed, such things as the involvement of children, non-consensual control of female prostitutes by male pimps, and rape already exists. Would legalization of prostitution and registration (for health reasons) of prostitutes really cause an increase in non-consensual and/or sexually-violent activity. I cannot believe that it would. Let government go after the criminals, I say. Indeed, there will always be some to go after. Leave people who are engaging in voluntary consensual sexual activity alone. It should be irrelevant that money changes hands.

I think the women who willing work in the profession say that prostitution is a victimless crime, but it is not. Though most the sympathies may lie with those "poor women" who are being "used" by the men, it is really the male customers, who on the whole are not very good at obtaining sex in a normal relationship, who are the victims in many cases. The prostitutes manipulate these men using sex and attention to trick the john into believing they "love" them. However, once drained of money the prostitute is not longer interested in these lonely men and the realization that they have been had is quite painful. No prostitution is called the oldest profession for a reason and that is why society should promote sexual responsibility not sexuality.

I think the women who willingly work in the profession say that prostitution is a victimless crime, but it is not. Though most the sympathies may lie with those "poor women" who are being "used" by the men, it is really the male customers, who on the whole are not very good at obtaining sex in a normal relationship, who are the victims in many cases. The prostitutes manipulate these men using sex and attention to trick the johns into believing they "love" them. However, once drained of money the prostitute is not longer interested in these lonely men and the realization that they have been had is quite painful. Prostitution is called the oldest profession for a reason and that is why society should promote sexual responsibility not sexuality.

I always think it is terribly ironic and hypocritical for women to rant about the rightful need for women to make choices with their own bodies, except when it comes to prostitution, pornography and other choices that some women disapprove of.

This issue is very simple for me. It has some to do with men, but much more to do with women.

A woman's body is her own. It's not the property of men, pimps, the government, or even other women who don't approve of their choices.

It is their own. And there is no reason, as far as I am concerned, that they need the permission of Ann or Rosemary or the government or anyone else, for that matter, to do with their bodies as they please.

I always think it's ironic to talk about women's freedom and equity all in the name of denying them freedom and equity. It's terribly distorted and it is most certainly puritanism of a different sort.

Sami is right. A less repressed and more open sexuality in the culture, the more healthy and equitable it is, empirically as much as anything else. Those cultures with more open, less repressed sexuality by a pretty uncontroversial examination of the facts and history, have more equitable and free relationships between genders and healthier relationships, sexual and otherwise, for women.

I think one fundamental difference I have with the anti-prositution crowd is that they want to rid the world of it or capitalize on many decent peoples' guilt about the subject to imply that the goal is to rid ourselves of prositution.

I'm not clear, at all, that this is either a realistic or good goal. I think women would be better off making choices that involve more equitable relationships with men. But, fundamentally, this is a choice for women (and men) to make for themselves and not to have others make it for them, as far as I'm concerned.

And societies that have more relaxed attitudes towards prostitution and pornography and more open and less repressed sexuality in the culture, empirically, facilitate more respect and equity in relationships between men and women. And that is no accident. The openness is the reason for the progress on this issue.

This piece discusses the effects that sexual segregation and represseion have on men - but not on women. The author is speaking entirely in favor of men and their experience of sexuality....I would like to hear a Syrian woman's voice, or perhaps the voice of one of the women kept in one of those illegal brothels, comment on this issue.

Ann, if you were a man I'd marry you, thank you for your insight.
This discussion shows how important it is to have all types of people, including women, in a debate about WOMEN's bodies--these men are actually buying into the idea they're entitled to a release, and that somehow will deter Islamic fundamentalists? I think dealing well with Iraq, uniting against Iran, investing in infrastructure, changing our policies with Israel, and good PR will do more than a sexual sub-class, a harem of millions of broken women, to do the same.
Poor white people in the 1960's South felt better being white than being black although class had used to be more defining and exclusive. After the black/white dichotomy began to slip away, poor whites felt angry at a loss of status and identity. Should lynchings, racial intimidation, and traditional repressive binaries have been held up? Maybe, combined with new foreign and economic policies, the solution is for sexist selfish sociopathic disgusting predatory men to GET OVER THEMSELVES and their sense of entitlement to and use of women in sex.
For a final rant about these comments, actually where there is a thriving sex industry, other branches (including child prostitution and child porn) go up. And unfortunately sexual deviation is much more complicated and multifaceted than women not having sex or society being hypocritical... again, do the research, kids, you'd be amazed how easy it is to look at things with more light

i agree with ann re: this is nuts, because of the issue of human trafficking. not that i have a solution, but legalization doesn't sit well with me - it's a bandaid solution, and the vast majority of prostitutes aren't there because one day they woke up and said hey this is a good easy way to make some bucks.

but ann - pleeeez jump off the 72 virgins bandwagon. that is NOT the primary motivation of palestinian suicide bombers, however titillating it is for the west to believe that. the only way we're going to get closer to understanding it is cutting it off at its root - which is the illegal occupation of palestinian land! (not to start up a whole 'nother discussion here or anything)

but i also second what you say about equalizing education and employment for women and men. to tackle the problem of prostitution you also need to hack at its roots - poverty, illiteracy, ridiculous social standards for women that lead to things like honor killings. so much of the muslim world needs to change they way they are practicing and implementing their religion! (and yes i'm muslim)

Legalizing Prostitution may, as the writer states, allow certain sex-obsessed men (in Syria--but basically they're every where)to view just the prostitutes as 'sexual objects', thereby allowing all other women to be viewed as, what...sisters, mothers, daughters. As if there is no other way to control the thought process of these men; other than illegal prostitution. It does seem to boil down to the sex obsessions of these certain men. Dare I say 'sinners'? They will always be among us, as will temptation. They are weak and allow the evils in this world to creep into their lives. Should I look into my basest instincts, I like the idea of prostitution and its primitive sex with no personal involvement. But then I stop, think about what God's gift of sexuality really means--and realign my thoughts on proper things, like sharing this gift with my wife, and not exploitng it for my own purely physical satisfaction. Yes, men can become slaves to all types of obsessions--sex, drugs, alcohol, food, greed, etc (you remember the 7 deadly sins) a whole host of basal instincts. Our calling is to seek God's state of grace and rise above them. Easy? No. But who said Life was Easy. Pray my friends.

By the way Stan, for all the oversimplistic, traditional liberal conceptions of choice and possession, prostitution is, according to 80-90% worldwide of prostitutes themselves and certainly in the case of the trafficked, NOT A CHOICE. Look into disassociation and the influence of coercion and male abuse to learn a little more than that. Reality is more complicated than the wealthy, white, elite males of the 18th century led us to believe, and it's time for a new discourse into individual choice. and George, survey (ie every nation where it has been legalized) shows that legalization only increases those rotten things. Besides, why care about a 16 year old and not what happens when she's 18 and feels no more empowered or able to choose what to do after years of horrific abuse and disassociation? The average age in industrialized nations is of entry is 14 for girls, 12 for boys--and that's an average, and it's worse in developing countries. so not only does legalization have a proven track record of increasing the things you understandably oppose, it only sanctions, encourages, and denies recognition of the problems of those same people when they're nominally of a consenting age but in no better position to consent.

Actually, your article is incredibly misinformed, about prostitution, the lives of prostitutes, the effects of legalization (you might look at nations where it has been legalized--prostitutes' safety is no better, illegal and often forced and underage trafficking increases, the industry expands, the number of pimps increase, and buying and often abusing men and women of all ages becomes normal, acceptable social activity), the risks of prostitution (severe PTSD and head traumas, rapes around once a week, pimps who control 90% of American prostitutes or owners who control the trafficked using coercion, beatings, torture, physical confinement and rape to keep 50-100% of the earnings, for instance), the nature of prostitution (sorry, not the oldest profession in the world, though many a self-serving misogynist will tell you it is), and the women in it(consistently around 95% want to leave IMMEDIATELY, but cite needing access to health care, therapy, vocational training/education, and rehab). Prostitution does not increase or decrease the variety and number of sexual deviations, it only gives men a sub-class of human beings, and invisible, marginalized, disempowered and scorned class of broken and often addicted human beings to act out those deviations on. If you do the research, it also does little to keep the "industry" legit--there are always downsides and invasive parts of being registered, and many prostitutes, pimps and traffickers have no desire (or in the case of the thousands and thousands of minor, unwilling, or illegal prostitutes) no ability to get registered. Next time do a little more research into the global problem of prostitution and sex trafficking (they are increasingly inextricably linked) which, by the way, is not women's fault for not having sex with men or the fault of puritanical cultures the way many of your supporters' comments seem to imply.

Legalize it and be done with it. Clean up the worste abuses, The PIMPING, Underage girls, force prostitution.

Prostitution will NEVER be eradicated reason, simple numbers. In the DC metro area Popuplaion 4 Million+, there are 105 to 108 males for every 100 females between the ages of 18 & 40. The numbers do not equal out utill you hit the 40+ age group. That's a lot of unattached males running arround, do the math.

Selling is legal. F#%@ing is legal. So why isn't selling f#%@ing legal?

Is it possible that Islamic sexual rules lead to the kind of frustration that finds it outlet in male aggressive behavior including mass killing and suicide bombings? In the West it is believed that participation in aggressive sports eg football lessens sexual tension. My answer to the question I pose is yes but I have no evidence to support it.

This is nuts. There is not one person who has commented on the fate of the women who would feed the prostitution industry thus created. Human trafficking is at an all time high, particularly in children. The problem here is the retrograde religious nonsense that creates the lack of a healthy realtionship between the sexes and the deprivation described. It is the incredible ignorance to which many of these men are consigned that makes them commit suicide to have access to their 70 virgins in heaven. But no one considers why there is this seemingly endless supply of virgins who apprently did something so terrible in life that they deserve rape by a terrorist for eternity. Greater equality for women, and more access to education and income for both sexes will cause men to view women as human beings and not sex objects. Permanently consigning women and young girls to that status will not.

BTW, what the hell is the Washington Post doing running an editorial like this? And how scary are all of the people in this country who think this is a good idea.

It's a simple matter of personal freedom. If you choose to exchange a commodity you possess - in this case sexuality - for money, in a transaction that both parties agree to, it is just none of the government's business (except for possible tax implications - but they can't have it both ways). Of course, economic conditions will mean that poor people will be more likely to make this exchange, but making prostitution illegal does not change that. The illegality of prostituion encourages pimping, an activity much more dangerous to women than prostitution.

legalizing prostitution..in Syria.? This is a hot issue?

What's funny, is all the people here that responded with comments like "great!" "facinating" "interesting" etc. When the subject is written by a Christian writer in the most polite, unoffennding terms, a torrent of hateful venom is spewed by respondents on this blog at the guest writer....

Kinda creepy....well, this IS the Washington Post...

Right on, bro'! At worst, sex should be a misdemeanor: the more you miss, the meaner you get.

Jim

Good article. May be that is what the world needs for peace-Muslim men be sexually satisfied and not frustrated or deprived and blowing people up.

Anyway, I think prostitution is also a good way for 3rd world backward countries (India, Pakistan, etc...) to draw in foreign capital (Look at Bangkok, Manila etc.-where you see white men with a young prostitute all the time).

nevada has legalized prostitution!

The law of suppy and demand!

Most people are not willing to admit the demand is there and the supply is always available, due to social circumstances. The poor get used.

When people gain insight of true equality, prostitution will disappear just as other forms arrogance dissapear from self realization.

kudistan

Several women have spoken out here about the need for equal rights for women. I believe that this is a very important aspect of this and one that Mr. Moubayed touches on a little bit. I feel like part of the problem is the fact that men have no "normal" non-sexual relationships with women which causes all women to be seen as sexual objects. I think that this is more of a problem for men than for women because biologically men (on-average) have a higher sexual drive than women. Also men have a biological imperative to have sexual relationships with as many women as possible whereas the female biological urge is for a single stable relationship. These are generalizations and not necessarily true in any specific case, they are however true in the species as a whole.

Prostitution aught to be legalized in order to stop incest and child molestation in the arab world from those who claim to be religious. The problem of sexual perversion is a result of sexual deprivation and social hypocriy. Those who advocate the elimination of legal postitution are the ones who engage in (reaction formation) and they are the ones who sceam the loudest.

I am assuming that you also mean men for men prostitution should also be legalized as well as homosexuality and gay marriage in Syria and the rest of the Arab world as well as the Muslim world. What individual citizens choose to do among each other is of no consequence to the state, long as no one is directly harmed and it is consentual.

I am assuming that you are including men. Male prostitution would help the sexually repressed woman in Syria also. Right?

Thanks for the thoughtful article Sami. With all the internal critical reforms Syria is going through, it is vital to consider the social reform aspects. Unfortunately many people turn defensive when it comes to discussions about prostitution in general as the topic appears to contradict some religious beliefs. This is not about ones belief; it is about social welfare and securing a better future for Syria. I hope more Syrian thinkers and readers give a careful thought to this article.

This was fascinating and very interesting to read. Thank you for your words and history lesson. I am very interested in this aspect of a culture, especially the juxtaposition of religious mores and sexual mores. Very interesting contribution. It looks like a lot of interesting comments follow your article, so now I will go back and read them.

De-criminalizing prostitution world-wide is even better. The Syrian society, albeit mainly muslim, is so vastly different than most Arab and other non-Arab Muslim countries.

The reason behind the differences is the way Syrian people developed socially and politically, despite the influence of religion.

People in Syria have traditionally accepted that religion is not necessarily "a way of life". Religious practice is confined to houses of worship. The spititual life of a Syrian did never characterize his political affiliation or his socio-economic status.

The social values however, played and still does in a major way, a big role in the development of the moral and ethical consience of Syrians. These values are shared by all ethnic and religious groups that comprise today's Syria. All of these values have some roots in religion. Afterall, religion is that older source of morality and ethical conduct.

For right or for wrong, the Syrian society at present has broken loose of religious quackery when it comes to sexual behaviour. What remains to be done is for law enforcement to leave prostitutes alone because prostitution is not a criminal act, rather it is an economic activity that serves a social objective, namely relieve the young men from having to masturbate for ever and get a head start before a happy marriage.

In this age of STD's and AIDS, it is better to control prostitution by providing a safe and healthy environment, in order to protect the rest of society and control the spread of crime usually associated with uncontrolled, illegal prostitution in countries still governed by "Holy Books".

De-criminalizing prostitution world-wide is even better. The Syrian society, albeit mainly muslim, is so vastly different than most Arab and other non-Arab Muslim countries.

The reason behind the differences is the way Syrian people developed socially and politically, despite the influence of religion.

People in Syria have traditionally accepted that religion is not necessarily "a way of life". Religious practice is confined to houses of worship. The spititual life of a Syrian did never characterize his political affiliation or his socio-economic status.

The social values however, played and still does in a major way, a big role in the development of the moral and ethical consience of Syrians. These values are shared by all ethnic and religious groups that comprise today's Syria. All of these values have some roots in religion. Afterall, religion is that older source of morality and ethical conduct.

For right or for wrong, the Syrian society at present has broken loose of religious quackery when it comes to sexual behaviour. What remains to be done is for law enforcement to leave prostitutes alone because prostitution is not a criminal act, rather it is an economic activity that serves a social objective, namely relieve the young men from having to masturbate for ever and get a head start before a happy marriage.

In this age of STD's and AIDS, it is better to control prostitution by providing a safe and healthy environment, in order to protect the rest of society and control the spread of crime usually associated with uncontrolled, illegal prostitution in countries still governed by "Holy Books".

It is not only about legalising prostitution in Syria but all over the world as this would rid this stigmatised profession of many of the associated ills.

I really enjoyed reading this article and although I personally agree with legalizing prostitution, I must point out that Mr. Moubayed missed an important point that is a defining factor of sexuality in the Arab world.

It is a woman's chastity and the expectation of female virginity upon marriage.

Prostitution aside -- and whether or not it is legal is irrelevant to this point -- I think the idea of female chastity must be revised in the Arab world before we can have a healthy conversation about sexuality.

If Arab men abandon the expectation that they MUST marry a virgin (unless she is divorced, which is acceptable), then perhaps they can begin to have "normal" and healthy sexual relations with a girlfriend or fiancee, without lamenting about the lack of legalized prostitution.

If that were to happen, perhaps the very high divorce rate in the Arab world today would decline, as many experts blame incompatible sexual habits as a leading cause for divorce in this part of the world.

And perhaps fewer men will be duped into believing that their new bride is a virgin when in fact she is sexually experienced but opted to have the now-all-too-common hymen reconstruction surgery.

Legalizing prostitution will not address any of these issues. But an open conversation about sexual double standards, gender and female chastity will.

We charge by the hour too....and it is still legal.

Governments must stay away from pimping and getting involved with such issues, to allow or ban. Let people decide, even by their natural behaviours. They will eventually set up their own rules anyway, either underground or out in in the open (tolerated, formally legal, legal but pimping is illegal, etc.....like various countries in Europe). Demand creates supply, and thus social rules of behaviour not to mention tens of "escort and modeling" advertisements in American Yellow Pages phone books!

The real problem underlying all the discussion about prostitution is really human: if a man engages in sex with multiple women, prostitutes etc. it is acceptable because his manly desire gets in his way otherwise. There is a tacit agreement among men, that women doing the same, are morally depraved. But why? Why would having sex deprave a woman but not a man?

The problem of prostitution is not so much one of excessive sexual desire, but one of excessive humiliation and oppression of men. As the German philosopher Friedrich Nietsche stated: if either the top or the bottom overheats, there is something wrong with one's thinking".

It will take a long time for world society to face up to the fact that human beings, male or female, are vulnerable to abuse, that it deforms them, and that society needs to increase in civility on all levels in order to progress.

Until then, I agree, that prostitution should be legalized, namely for reasons of civility: to protect prostitutes with equal legal workplace rights.

The real problem underlying all the discussion about prostitution is really human: if a man engages in sex with multiple women, prostitutes etc. it is acceptable because his manly desire gets in his way otherwise. There is a tacit agreement among men, that women doing the same, are morally depraved. But why? Why would having sex deprave a woman but not a man?

The problem of prostitution is not so much one of excessive sexual desire, but one of excessive humiliation and oppression of men. As the German philosopher Friedrich Nietsche stated: if either the top or the bottom overheats, there is something wrong with one's thinking".

It will take a long time for world society to face up to the fact that human beings, male or female, are vulnerable to abuse, that it deforms them, and that society needs to increase in civility on all levels in order to progress.

Until then, I agree, that prostitution should be legalized, namely for reasons of civility: to protect prostitutes with equal legal workplace rights.

I thought your post was really something. I definitely would like to hear more histories of virtually everything in the Islamic world. In fact histories of everything from all cultures. We really need to understand each others cultures from the ground up in all aspects...Thank you.

This is a really interesting post. I never knew Syria had legalized prostitution and am surprised to hear it. Thanks for talking about it.