Equality Now Media Advisory

What: Manhattan-based sex tour operator Saeed Ahmed is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2007, at 9.30 am in the Supreme Court of New York County. Ahmed was found guilty of three counts of promoting prostitution in the third degree, a D Felony, under which he could be imprisoned for up to seven years. Saeed Ahmed operated Jump Off Destinations a sex tour company that offered sex tours from New York to the Dominican Republic.

When: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 9.30 am

Where: Supreme Court of New York County, 60 Center Street, New York, NY

Background: In February 2006, Equality Now brought the case of Jump Off Destinations to the attention of the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The office was quick to respond and Saeed Ahmed was arrested in May 2006 for violating New York state law that prohibits the promotion of prostitution. The upcoming sentencing is particularly noteworthy because this is the first time that the New York state law prohibiting the promotion of prostitution will be used to successfully sentence a sex tour operator.

For over eleven years Equality Now has campaigned for the prosecution of Big Apple Oriental Tours, a sex tour company based out of Queens, which also violated the same state law. Although Big Apple Oriental Tours was effectively shut down in 2003 by a temporary restraining order, the criminal case is still pending. After a first criminal indictment, an appeal, a second criminal indictment and second appeal, the criminal case has been referred back to the Dutchess County Court for trial, which is still to be scheduled.

Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the civil, political, economic and social rights of girls and women. Equality Now's Women's Action Network comprises 30,000 groups and individual members in over 160 countries. For more information please visit www.equalitynow.org.

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