Sex workers to lose hair during Ramadhan

PEKANBARU, Riau: The Pekanbaru municipal government warned on Tuesday that government officials would shave sex workers' heads, if they were found operating during Ramadhan. The statement was made following the arrest of 17 sex workers in various places in the city in the past week.

Sex workers are normally released after they sign an agreement not to operate again, but in most cases, they return to the streets a few weeks after.

The presence of sex workers during Ramadhan, is offensive to Muslims who are fasting, said Ida Triani, the chief of Pekanbaru Social Affairs Office. -- JP