Egyptian Actor Lutfi Labib: We Need Nudity on TV to Battle Sexual Harassment

In a recent TV interview, Egyptian actor Lutfi Labib said that sexual harassment in Egyptian society stemmed from the repression of urges and that "we need a little nudity on TV" in order to combat this.

 

Following are excerpts from the interview, which aired on the Egyptian Dream2 TV channel on March 5, 2015.

 

 

Lutfi Labib: In the past, women would wear whatever they wanted.

 

 

Egyptian TV host Mofeed Fawzy: Please explain what you mean.

 

 

Lutfi Labib: You were around in the days of the mini-skirts, like me?

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: Obviously.

 

 

Lutfi Labib: Was there any ogling going on?

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: None whatsoever. How come?

 

 

Lutfi Labib: I don't know. I wrote about this…

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: Saying what?

 

 

Lutfi Labib: I was in America back then. I wrote that one could see naked, women, women with a hijab, women did not cover their hair, women with a niqab, yet there was no sexual harassment. I didn't see sexual harassment or anything of the sort.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: In your personal assessment, what are the reasons for sexual harassment in Egypt?

 

 

Lutfi Labib: The repression of urges. The TV screen is like a mirror you have at home. I would like some… I apologize. I know that people will attack me for what I am about to say, but I will say it anyway.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: Go ahead.

 

 

Lutfi Labib: We need a little nudity on TV in order to undo our repression of urges.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: A little nudity?

 

 

Lutfi Labib: Not nudity in the sense of…My point is that women should not appear on TV covered from head to toe.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: The delightful Haifa Wehbe recently appeared in a see-through dress. You feel as if your eyes are trying to climb over the fence of her garden, to see what's on the other side…

 

 

Lutfi Labib: Well, in any case…

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: The female Lebanese TV hosts, with all due respect, have a lot going on in this sense.

 

 

Lutfi Labib: And that's why there is no sexual harassment in Lebanon.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: Right. So you believe that a little nudity may reduce the repression of the urges?

 

 

Lutfi Labib: Yes, it may reduce it a little.

 

 

Mofeed Fawzy: Some may claim that nudity will only increase…

 

 

Lutfi Labib: No way! No.

 

 

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