UAE | Crime
Girls who fled Iraq 'were forced into prostitution'
Two teenagers, who escaped Iraq's instability, became victims of alleged human traffickers who reportedly bought them from their mothers and flew them from Syria, with fake documents, to Dubai to work as prostitutes and dancers.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:04 June 11, 2009
Dubai: Two teenagers, who escaped Iraq's instability, became victims of alleged human traffickers who reportedly bought them from their mothers and flew them from Syria, with fake documents, to Dubai to work as prostitutes and dancers.
A 47-year-old Iraqi supervisor, Q.D., and his 30-year-old son, W.D., have been charged with exploiting the hardship of the teenage girls, a 13-year-old student and a 19-year-old visitor, forcing them into the sex industry after conspiring with their mothers.
"Two years ago, my mother started abusing me by sending me to private dance parties for money& Q.D. or W.D. would drive me to these special parties. I used to collect the money and give it to my mother," the student claimed to the public prosecutor.
The 19-year-old testified: "My mother, brothers and I escaped from Iraq and stayed in Syria. We met an Iraqi man, named S., who suggested to my mother that I come and work as a prostitute in Dubai& she agreed because of our destitute and miserable situation."
Q.D. and W.D. pleaded not guilty and refuted the charge of human trafficking when they appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Thursday.
The Public Prosecution charged them with violating the human trafficking law by sexually abusing the girls and exploiting their young age and circumstances.
They were charged with flying the girls here, using fake Iraqi passports to work as prostitutes and dancers, under duress, and in collaboration with their mothers for cash.
Q.D. was solely charged with using the fake travel documents to apply for visas for the girls whom he claimed were his daughters.
"I didn't forge anything. I am not guilty," said Q.D. when he defended himself before Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir.
According to the arraignment sheet, Q.D., W.D. and his 22-year-old Iraqi wife, R.A., and a 45-year-old Iraqi housewife, A.S., were jointly charged with exploiting the 19-year-old visitor and her 24-year-old compatriot, H.S., to work as prostitutes.
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