Iran Rejects Legalized Brothel Proposal

The Ministry's Social Council was responding to the growing prostitution problem in Iran by proposing 'decency houses' but cancelled the idea when religious and women's groups protested.

Under the proposal, unmarried men and women could sign up at a registration center, get medical checks, then be paid off after the men paid a fee for a temporary marriage license. They would then be directed to a place where police would not harass them.

Welfare officials say there are at least 300,000 prostitutes working in the country. Drug abuse and crime are on the increase, and the number of girls running away from home is rising steadily. Officials say nearly two million women are without homes, and one million lack any kind of social benefits.

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