The secret world of Baghdad's sex toy shops

Iraqi citizens and the central government are outraged by the spread of sexual products in popular markets across the country.
Iraqis shop at the Shorja market, the main stockpile central in Baghdad on August 30, 2008, as households prepare for the Muslim holy month or Ramadan. Iraqi women and men once fearful of shopping here are more confident since the improvement in security around the capital. Muslims around the world are gearing up for the holy month of Ramadan which commences on Sept 01. For the duration of the lunar month, Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dusk till dawn as life slips into a lowe
Iraqis shop at the Souk al-Shorja wholesale market in central Baghdad, Aug. 30, 2008. - Getty/AFP/Ali Al-Saadi
Omer Iamge BW.jpg
Omar al-Jaffal
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BAGHDAD — In Souk al-Shorja, in the center of Baghdad, a young man called out to his friend, pointing to a street vendor on the crowded sidewalk.

“See? Even in the West, such merchandise is not on display in popular markets,” the young man said.

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