It’s a handshake deal that initially seems good for both sides: with Turkish women entering the workforce in large numbers today, Turkmen women provide an indispensable service — at a high personal and cultural cost. neweurasia’s Annasoltan goes on a personal journey in Istanbul for answers.

Over the past few years, Istanbul’s boulevard press has been awash with sensational reports about the illegal activities of Turkmen “guest workers”. They have been associated with prostitution, pimping, the illegal drug trade, theft, and even murder. But who are the members of this faceless horde really? neweurasia’s Annasoltan investigates.