An expert in prostitution in Iceland and Icelandic politicians have called for the police to investigate two “champagne clubs” for possible prostitution and human trafficking.
As reported, two journalists recently went undercover to two different champagne clubs in Reykjavík, Crystal and VIP Club. Women working at the latter were mostly from Slovenia who had only been in Iceland a week, lived in the same small apartment, and appeared to need permission to speak from an on-site supervisor. Further, the reporter was told he could do “anything he wanted” with one of the women in the back room of the club for 20,000 ISK.
Vísir spoke with Steinunn Gyðu- og Guðjónsdóttir, who runs a shelter for former prostitutes. She told reporters that the clubs “bear many of the signs of human trafficking”.
Björk Vilhelmsdóttir, a Reykjavík city council member for the Social Democrats, told reporters, “I believe there is every reason for police to investigate the matter. Clients are paying for access to women, which is obvious prostitution.”
Siv Friðleifsdóttir, who led the bill in the parliament that would ban strip clubs in Iceland in 2010, seconded the motion for a police investigation.
Commissioner of the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police Stefán Eiríksson told reporters that while he has not been familiar with the clubs, it is the duty of the police to investigate such matters. The owners of the clubs could not be reached for comment.
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