20-year-old Egyptian activist Aliaa Mahdy has caused uproar by posting nude self-portraiture on her blog, to protest “a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy,” which isn’t the usual motivation for uploading naked pics, but whatever. Worried about losing the moderate vote, liberal politicians are making a point of criticizing Mahdy’s apparent impropriety.

Mahdy actually uploaded a bunch of photographs to her (NSFW) blog, but the one provocative image that everybody seems to be latching on to – of Mahdy facing the camera wearing only thigh-high stockings, red shoes and a red bow in her hair – reported a little over a million hits since it was posted this week. You can take a look at the very-NSFW image over here.

It’s sparked a fair amount of conversation on Twitter under the #NudePhotoRevolutionary tag.

While the protest is dandy and all, there is the concern that raging against the influence of Islamist parties in a country that prides itself on piety and holds a 90% Muslim population isn’t going to do anybody any favours – and is likely to incite the more hard-line Islamists against secularism or liberalism of any kind at this point. There has been considerable outcry – surprise – to the extent that the April 6 Youth Movement, which had a hand in starting up the Spring in Egypt, has felt the need to dispel rumours that Mahdy had been a member of the group. It is unclear at this time whether the self-described feminist and activist was involved with April 6 or not.

So, what, attention-seeking behaviour that co-opts women’s lib? Genuine if ineffective protest? Another drop in the big ol’ bucket of naked pictures on the internet?

[Source: WP]