Crisis in Tahrir

Legal action taken against Egypt “nude revolutionary” activist

| 17 November 2011 | Comments (61)

Aliya Mahdy

CAIRO: The first legal move against the nude revolutionary pictures have occurred as the Coalition of Islamic law graduates filed a case against activist Aliya Magda al-Mahdy and her boyfriend, and blogger, Kareem Amer, on Thursday accusing them of “violating morals, inciting indecency and insulting Islam.”

The report, which was submitted to the general prosecutor, said the activist published a nude picture of herself “trying to spread her obscene ideology through the nude pictures.”

The report was published in full on the coalition’s Facebook page, called for Mahdy and Amer to be punished according to Islamic law.

“The old constitution and the new declarations of the new one says Islamic law is the source of governing, therefore we asked for Islamic law penalties to be executed on the two bloggers,” Ahmed Yehia, coordinator of the coalition told Bikyamasr.com.

“It is an insult to the revolution as these two persons who pretend to be one of the revolutionists and asking for sexual freedoms, they are giving the uprising a bad name,” he continued.

“It is our duty to fight corruption and this is a corruption case, we people who are trying to corrupt society with foregion and unacceptable customs like the sexual freedom they ask for,” continued Yehia.

Amer had been in the spotlight a few years earlier in Egypt, spending time in jail after he was charged with insulting Islam in one of his blog posts.

“The top authority, either the Grand Mufti or the ruling council, should give them the proper sentence they deserve for the crimes they committed,” added Yehia.

Mahdy sparked controversy last weekend when she posed completely nude and posted the photo on her personal blog. She wrote on her website that it was an act of protest, but both liberals and conservatives have condemned the move.

Now, she faces a court case over the image, which has already been viewed over one million times and rising.

“The sentence could be lashes, time in prison or what they see fit,” Yehia continued.

Adultery is punishable in Islam with 80 lashes in public, while insulting Islam could receive the death penalty.

BM

ShortURL: http://goo.gl/5FJyF

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Section: Egypt, Latest News, Religion, Women

Egypt in Crisis
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  • Ali_galaxy

    Excuse me, who the fuck are you to decide for the whole society? Like Reply

  • Yomna

    It is incorrect to state that Islam orders the death of those who insult it. It is clearly said “do not insult other’s religion so they won’t do the same with yours”.Your article is highly condemn-able on this point. I respect what she did on some point, I think it is very courageous. 

  • MusicianNYC

    More obtuse ignorance stemming from religion..In this case, it would probably be too much to expect from people with half a mind and even a rudimentary knowledge of Ethics, but how nice would it be to question how secure people are in their own “beliefs” if the penalty for “insulting” them is death? What a shame!

  • Mods

    Nobody gets what the guy is actually saying. What she did is inciting moral corruption and corrupting society. Look what happened after her act. Israeli women also stripped naked to support her. See how fast corruption spreads? One girl did it now others also did it. Besides what she did led to another problem. This girl is now a threat to other girls who don’t have the freedom to get educated in Egypt also. Cz men will now say: see this is what you get when you give women freedom: a corrupt and shameful act. That’s all what it gives. There are better things to do other than strip naked if you want to speak up for freedom.

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  • Maha

    I think what this girl did was desgusting and she has no shame… even the Israeli women who posed nude to support her hid their bosoms with their hands and hid behind a poster!!! However, I think she needs to be kicked out of the country, maybe they should exile her to some European country where women are applauded when they pose naked. 

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  • Underdog

    She should file for political asylum in USA, Canada, UK, and get her out of Egypt until she can safely go back. 

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  • Nicebloke1965

    If these people are offended by the nude picture of this woman they simple don’y have to look at it. It’s pathetic.

  • T F Smythe QJM

    More evidence of a backward culture made dangerous by their oil fortune. The sooner we go nuclear powered with electric cars the better, then they can go back to the old ways.

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  • Tralalalala

    WHO CARES WHAT SHE DID!

    It is HER life. SHE gets to decide what she wants to do. You have NO right to judge what she is allowed to do. If god really thinks this is bad, he will punish her anyways. Thats not YOUR job. I wouldn’t ever do this but everyone is unique and thinks in a different way and does things different (thankgod, else we’d be SO boring). Nobody is better than the other so you have no right to judge her or ANYTHING cause of her posting a naked picture on internet? Like. Did she kill your family? Did she stick a knife through your eye? No… YOU are the one looking at this picture.

    She’s an individual and she’s allowed to do whatever the fuck she wants. 
    I wish I could kidnap her to a fairytale island where everyone is equal and can walk around nude or unshaved forever. Cause that’s what life is about. Being and doing what you want as you still have the chance to do so. Cause aslong as nobody gets harmed or killed, why would we make a problem out of it?

    Some people are just friggin DRAMA llamas. 21th century people.. HELLO?>????

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmy-Terwiliger/100003135268074 Jimmy Terwiliger

    Egypt should be nuked off the planet along with Iran. Perfect blending of the Middle East and Africa, and a true blight on the world. I support this girls rights. Islamists all should eat pork and die

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  • Salman khan

    every boy and girls here which support that girl.they r hypocritess..go home take a nude scrap of ur mother and sister and ur daughter..put on ur twitter and ace book nd support tht girl,then u r telling truth,if u cant it mean u against nudity,and u r a biased person ..and fear frm islam,,,k t note,,u just hapy to see her pic ,,,
     

    • Assem

      No Problem!! I don’t mind seeing my whole family naked…

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  • Johnfreethinker

    Ms. Mahdy needs to do two things: put more pictures of her lovely self on the Internet, and carry a gun to slay rapist thugs. 

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  • True-schooler

    islam is embarassing shit

    • Ashiqsofi

      what abt nuns

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  • skeptic4321

    And my comments must be approved by a moderator- nice, censorship.  Islam at its best.

  • skeptic4321

    Here Islam-
    Your god is imaginary, just as all gods and godesses are, and your beliefs are primitive.  Mohamed was a violent, evil man who deserves no respect and should be thrown into the caldron of those like Hitler who have caused human suffering and atrocities.
    So, go to hell Allah and Mohamed, that’s where you will be most welcome.

    How’s that for insulting Islam.  

    Infantile bastards.

     

  • Scott

    She’s a brave girl.  But it seems that most liberal Egyptians are afraid to back her, whether they agree with her or not.  That’s a shame.  I’m afraid for her punishment.  I just hope that when she gets lashed, she has enough freedom and bravery to post photos of her beaten body.  Not that I want to see it, but I think the world should.  I don’t know if I’d be as brave, if I were an Egyptian female, but I commend what she’s doing.

  • http://twitter.com/fester60613 I May Be Crazy

    Bravo for the girl and her boyfriend! Their’s is a viewpoint that deserves a voice – as is everyone’s in an intelligent society.
    Further, I think that a religion – like Islam – or a prophet – like Jesus – that is so very vulnerable to insult, isn’t a religion or a prophet worth following.

  • bora3i

    well i didnt know that sharia was applied in egypt…. i salute the girl for her courage… she might have come as offensive to many… but she’s right

  • Anonymous

    This girl is great every one should help her, who are against her they should get the hi on the butt

  • freedomforall

    Sharia Law was written in the first century of the common era and should not be allowed to act as judicial law in any modern society. As humans we have evolved and do not need backward religious laws (from any religion) dictate to us what to do. Religion cannot be scientifically proven, therefore how can it rationally decide the fate of others? We all have freedom to decide our own paths and we do not need ‘mythology’ to control us. No-one has the right to punish another person just because that person does not want to conform to the ridiculous laws of religion – please not, when I state ‘religion,’ I mean ALL religions.

  • Freshjuiceclub

    Maximus Declorum: Exile

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  • guest

    FYI
    Pakistan has banned content on more than a dozen websites because of offensive and blasphemous material. The Muslim country, which has laws on dress codes, ranks as the top country to proportionally search for certain sex-related terms.

  • Niels S

    It is only sick people who would even consider taking legal action against this young woman and her boyfriend.

  • Laila

    This girl did the right thing. I respect her 100%. She is brave and her image says much more than nudity…

     I am an Egyptian girl, and I have been sexually harrassed/ approached dozens of times in Egypt.. by policemen (pretending to question me); taxi drivers; even teachers!!!

    My mother always warned me of walking outside at night- and I am 30 yrs old!

    I agree with her. The Egyptian streets are full of men who look down at women, disrespect them, and ready to molest them at the first given opportunity.

     WHAT’S WORSE is that when you complain to police, they laugh it off- because you are a woman.

     Although I have left the country a few years ago, I hope things change soon for Egypt. It’s full of sexists, narrow-minded extremists, islamists- not a healthy environment at all.

    • Jennifer

      That’s funny… I’m American and live in Cairo and have yet to see the things you claim happen all the time to everyone.

      • Derek

        If you’re like most Americans these days, it’s probably because you’re too fat and ugly to get the attention of men, even desperate Egyptian molesters. 

  • Wolff2

    As christian i wonder,do you muslim have sex with clothes on?Are we not born naken,just wonder.or are you muslim born with clothes on?
    I find this woman braiv to do this in a Muslim contry.It’s time that all Muslim in the world start to use they and and hart before you use Weapon!But i dont think that this is to mutch to ask you to do.
    She is a real muslim for me.muslim woman with Hijab,Niqab etc are not woman they are slaves in their on body,you don’t now if its a man or a woman..

    • Rick Holliday

      Do you wonder this as a Christian, or how about just as a person?

  • Lamia

    She didn’t force you to go on her blog to see her ! One million click what a hypocrisy !
    Shame on you making case for Aliya and not saying a word about Samira Ibrahim forced to go through” Virginity test”

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  • Ahmed

    I do not agree with what this young woman has done, and I would never do the same. but WHO ARE YOU to decide what she should and should not do? if she wants to post naked pictures of herself then be it! I wish to live in a country where people only focus on themselves and stop caring what other people do. LIVE AND LET LIVE. The girl didn’t shove the pictures in your face. If you don’t want to see them THEN DON’T.

  • Greensahara

    Actually this isn’t adultery by any means or any definition, what it could be is lewdness and in the Koran, those who draw naive believing women to lewdness are those who should be punished, not her, if you want the Koranic explanation.She was a 19 year old whose boyfriend is much older&who clearly has influenced her..or whoever as she’s not an adult legally until she’s 21 and is actually a ward of her parents until she’s 25…making them responsible…but remember also in the Koran God says that anyone can follow whatever religion they want to,just like you’re free to follow the religion you want to. I don’t agree with what she did at all but I also don’t see her as the culprit but rather the victim…& she has opened a Pandora’s box,or rather, he has, stupidly not knowing what the consequences could be morally or legally

  • Zainab

     Mr Yehia, should go back to Saudi Arabia!!! I am a muslim and I support freedom for everyone nude or veiled.

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  • http://twitter.com/zidanism Ahmed Zidan

    I want to say to Mr Yehia, please think before speaking nonsense. You could type “nude girl” in Google picture search and have more than 9 million search which is reachable through any Egypt’s ISP.

    Why would you like to lash only one girl from these 9 million at least? And with all due respect, who the fuck are you to think/decide for the whole society?

  • Lockman

    That revolution was built on the blood of oppressed people. Those people did not die for this stupid girl pose nude, and legalize promiscuity. This is an insult to revolution and those died for revolution. I strongly hope that she is given the strongest possible penalty. Greetings from UK.

    • http://ianrobertdouglas.com Ian Douglas

      You don’t understand the situation here in Egypt. And because of this you shouldn’t judge what is an insult to the revolution or not. The revolution was about dignity, including freedom to take one’s destiny into one’s own hands. It was against torture, which is a matter of the integrity of the body. In Tahrir women played a critical role in the revolution; it was not possible without them. Since 12 February, Egyptians have been slowly backed into a corner by the military authorities, which is the regime less the figureheads. For me and for many, what this woman has done is a clear and courageous reminder of what the goal of the revolution was once dignity had been reclaimed; freedom, however Egyptians would like to define it, collectively and individually. Who are you, in the UK, to call for a penalty against this young woman? Don’t you understand that the revolution was a revolution against penalties?

      • Jennifer

        You say “here in Egypt”… well then you should know this would never be accepted here by the majority of people. This is a modest society. Women don’t walk around half naked. Women don’t subject themselves to becoming sexual objects. Women here have self respect. In fact, the most outrage is coming from the Egyptians and the protesters themselves!

        • http://ianrobertdouglas.com Ian Douglas

          What is acceptable to the majority and what is an insult to the revolution are two different things. No one claimed that women here “walk around” half naked, or that they don’t have self-respect. Regardless of all that, Aliaa did something important, and something that in my view supports the revolution. If others feel differently that is for them. She doesn’t deserve to be prosecuted for posing nude. No one does, anywhere

    • fridom

      You live in 2012 ?Or do you not,it’s time you muslim start to use your head and hart,Do you meet Mohammed  i never mit Jesus! You now wy it is so mutch war in the world today?People who like to walk naked on the beach,for me it’s okey,a woman who like to show naked body,okey for me thats her problem,we all are born naked! Or not?Strongest penalty is your wish why?Has she done wrong, has she kill some one?No ,she just exspress her fealing about the whey that men like you thrit a woman, for you is only a thing.
      Most of you muslim men are sqeard that a woman are clever than you men,but in fact they are but you put them in a closeth.

  • S Newton

    I am praying for you Egypt.  What your child did by posing in sweet nudity was frank, simple and cuts to the bottom line.  I am also praying for the creative resolve of these ancient customs and the subsequent conflicts of there enforcement.  My country went through this in the late 1800′s.  We were governing each other very strictly then in dogmatic ways based on loose interpretations of a meager few religious texts and punishing each other if we swerved per chance that if we allowed much personal exploration, civility would fall to pandemonium.  Good things did come of that needed restraint.  We then got our freedom to express, put up with a deliberate delve into darkness and bitterness that we are just now finally blossoming beyond into oneness, collaboration, realism and possibility.  If you can learn anything from us, please, forgive the scars of the indoctrinated abuse of motherhood and fellowship now and skip the tawdry ugliness part of expressing your new found and already solidified freedom.  Deliberate and laugh often, by grateful for the shift in perspective that global participation has allowed.  Remember, both sides chose this as the method of exchange and both can let it all go.  Poof!!  Peaceful creativity, best of the best for the children.  Praying with you through this rapid advancement of yours is very exciting and you are accomplishing untold glory for us all.  All my love and best wishes, Sarah Newton      

  • Aloha Snackbar

    Islam it is a complete fraud, just like Christianity and Judaism.

    Never thought I’d commit a capital offense. Check that off the bucket list.

    I’m sorry this woman lives in a country (region really) that is controlled by people who are less evolved than Neanderthals.

  • http://amr.clavid.com/ Amr Ali

    This is idiocy at its best. Regardless to anyone’s stance on nude art, if you think her actions insult Islam in anyway, you are nothing but a biological cell with one digit IQ.

    Making a “scene” out of her actions like that does nothing but help spread her message. And given current state of women rights, she might very well sound very convincing to a lot of women, which what exactly happened, she already gained the support of a handful of women from several Arab countries.

    Now let alone that if anything did happen to her will only make Egypt’s status on human rights worse, she will gain international support from groups supporting her move.

    Way to go Egypt!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SMWCJENG64PCYJZOBGZS3HG4WU abe leehane

    @Yehia. And the feeble minded speaketh…