Prostitution in Afghanistan
It is unclear, why the number is undesirable. It has often been associated with a pimp, who was living in Herat: This pimp had the nickname "39", after the number plate of his expensive car, and the number of his apartment. The number is said to translate into morda-gow, literally meaning "dead cow" but a well-known slang term for a pimp. Others have blamed corrupt police officials for spreading the rumour in order to charge between $200–500 to change a "39" plate.