World

Nine Women Rescued From A “Reality Show” In Turkey

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 10, 2009 at 11:55 am

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Nine women in Turkey thought they were being filmed for a reality show equivalent to “Big Brother” in the United States when in fact the images of them wearing bikini were distributed online for revenue-generating purposes. Once the women became suspicious and raised the alarm, they were not allowed to leave and were held captive in a villa in Istanbul for two months. They were threatened with considerable financial fines for breaking the contract and leaving. Turkish police say all nine women have now been rescued.

Hilmi Tufan Cakir, a lawyer representing the company that organized the show, said that eight out of the nine women had formally complained that they were held against their will. He said that they had not actually been held captive. He did not elaborate, other than to say he believed prosecutors were preparing an indictment against some company officials charging them with holding the women.

Visitors to the show's Web site are welcomed by a candy-pink page showcasing the contestants and asking viewers to subscribe through their mobile phone and watch footage from the villa.

Viewers can click on pictures of the contestants, opening up pictures and video of the women in shorts, miniskirts or bikinis.

A mother of one of the women told Dogan they were not abused or harassed sexually. They were told, however, to fight each other, wear bikinis and dance by villa's pool.