Red-light districts are areas associated with the sex industry and sex-oriented businesses e. In some of these places prostitution occurs, whether legally or illegally. The enforcement of prostitution laws varies by region. Following is a partial list of well known red-light districts around the world, both current and historical.
Prostitution is not specifically prohibited by the law, [ 2 ] but soliciting and pimping are illegal. Prostitution is illegal. Prostitution in Mauritania is illegal. Prostitution is regulated. Prostitution in Bangladesh is legal and regulated. Prostitution is legal when performed by a person acting alone in private but public solicitation, brothels and pimping are illegal however in practice prostitution is tolerated and regulated. Prostitution is illegal in non-regulated areas.
Prostitution is legal in some locations including pimping and maintaining a brothel. Prostitution in Iran is illegal, and incurs various punishments ranging from fines and jail terms to execution for repeat offenders. Prostitution is illegal but narrowly defined. Many sexual acts for pay that would be considered to be prostitution in other countries are legal.
Prostitution in most of Malaysia is legal and widespread, though there are laws against prostitution-related activities. However, prostitution is illegal in Malaysia's Kelantan state. Prostitution is illegal, but widespread and generally tolerated.
Prostitution itself is not illegal; however, public solicitation, living on the earnings of prostitution, and maintaining a brothel are illegal. Prostitution in Taiwan was made illegal under a law.
