In a recent case in Bad Godesberg, an ad promises “The way from me to us” and leads to a house near the Rigal’schen Wiese (the big park in Bad Godesberg with a playground next to a large commuter parking lot). A one-hour massage costs 100 euros, 90 minutes cost 140 euros - and the range of services extends even further, as one can see by having a glance at the website. One also notices that the employees seem to be getting very warm while on the job: their work clothes are made of skimpy cloths. Or even less.

The massages could soon come to an end because the city sees no legal basis for the business to operate. Apparently, the owners had tried to legalize the existing studio with a building permit. But this was rejected by the administration and building officials with the reasoning that it contradicts the current building specifications. Specifically, the administration cited a court ruling which prohibits brothel-like establishments in certain areas which are designated for residential and business use. In this case, the area is a designated residential neighborhood, which means the ruling is even more applicable. So the building permit was denied. Other businesses in this industry do have permits and are protected by certain rights.

In any case, the city has no doubt that more is going on behind those closed doors than massage for tired muscles. In a Tantra studio, erotic services are also provided and in general, erotic massage studios are regarded to be brothel-like businesses under a general legal opinion. And it is exactly for this kind of business that new prostitution laws brought delicate changes.

As of one year ago, all “prostitution sites” must apply for trade-legal permits. There are currently a dozen such applications, according to Andrea Schulte from the city press office. “Two businesses have received the permits and the others are still being processed,” she said. She also said that among the twelve applicants are a “classic brothel” , several massage studios and several apartments in which one or more prostitutes offer their services.

Meanwhile, the head of the Bad Godesberg studio rejects the notion of being a "brothel-like business": "We offer therapeutic massages, everything else is a matter of interpretation," she tells the General-Anzeiger. After all, she has been at the site for ten years, and there have never been any problems in the neighborhood. Now she wants to proceed with a lawyer against the decision of the city.

The administration has sharpened its view of the industry and is willing to litigate against business operators it views as illegal. Incidentally, Tantra massage is not to be confused with Thai massage, which has proven to have healing properties and has nothing to do with the so-called oldest trade in the world. Friends of Tantra massage need not worry until further notice, however, as the offers at least on the internet are plentiful. It might lead some Bonn residents to wonder just how intense those massages are in their neighborhood.

But on the website of the massage studio in question, it says, "To avoid misunderstandings, we would like to point out that our offer includes no sexual intercourse and no sexual exchange takes place. We ask you to refrain from inquiries of this kind. All touching during the massages are without sexual intention. "

Orig. text: Rüdiger Franz

Translation: ck