Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

UAE: Woman forced to work as prostitute rescued in Abu Dhabi

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have rescued a woman who was forced to work as a prostitute by a gang of human traffickers. Speaking after her ordeal, the woman said she felt helpless because she did not have money and her passport was also confiscated. “I was tortured and sexually assaulted for two months before the police raided the apartment and rescued me,” said the woman, who requested anonymity. The victim has been repatriated to her home country after receiving physical and psychological treatment, according to Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care (Ewaa), which also helped her have a fresh start in life. “I was able to send money for my mother's surgery and now I started a new safe life," the woman said. According to Ewaa, the victim was taken to their centre to recover. She had severe bruises all over her body as a result of repeated beatings and sexual assault in the hands of human traffickers. According to the victim, she was working as a hairdresser in her home country when a customer offered her a job opportunity in a salon in the UAE. She took the job offer because her mother was sick and needed surgery. Within two weeks she received her visa and flight ticket to the UAE. After arriving at the airport, she was taken to an apartment with other women, and was later told that she needed to work as a prostitute. When she refused, a man beat her up and detained her in a room for two days. She was forced to do as her captors demanded so she would not be beaten up, and so she could plan her escape. ICA/Expat Media
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