Aliaa Magda Elmahdy
Encyclopedia
Aliaa Magda Elmahdy is an Egypt
ian internet activist and women's rights
advocate. Together with her boyfriend Kareem Amer
, Elmahdy publicly challenged Egypt’s social strictures. Elmahdy became known for publishing a nude photo in her Blogspot blog, which she described in Facebook
as "screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy". Since then she became a subject of several death threats.
A student of the American University of Cairo, Elmahdy positioned herself as a "secular, liberal, feminist, vegetarian, individualist Egyptian" and an atheist since turning 16. Earlier in 2011 Elmahdy and Amer posted mobile video footage, where they debate with managers of a public park who expelled them for public display of affection. A case, filed by Islamic law graduates, accused Elmahdy and Amer of "violating morals, inciting indecency and insulting Islam".
with the hashtag #nudephotorevolutionary.
. Fearing of becoming tainted in the eyes of Islamic conservatives
, Egyptian liberals distanced themselves from Elmahdy. The April 6 Youth Movement
issued a statement denying claims that Elmahdy is a member of the group.
Egyptian expatriates, Western-based Arab journalists and representatives of American art community have expressed their support. Iranian-born activist Maryam Namazie
defined Elmahdy's action as "a scream against Islamism" and "the ultimate act of rebellion". According to actress Amanda Banoub
, Elmahdy "displayed genuine purity and modesty without a single layer of clothing". Recalling the virginity test
s carried out by the military to women in Tahrir Square, Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltaway noted that Elmahdy "is the Molotov cocktail
thrown at the Mubaraks in our heads — the dictators of our mind — which insists that revolutions cannot succeed without a tidal wave of cultural changes that upend misogyny and sexual hypocrisy".
About forty Israeli women gathered via Facebook to "show support in a non-violent and legitimate way for a woman who is just like us — young, ambitious, full of dreams and evidently has a developed sense of humor". The participants were photographed behind a sign saying "love without limits" and "Homage to Aliaa Elmahdi. Sisters in Israel".
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian internet activist and women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
advocate. Together with her boyfriend Kareem Amer
Kareem Amer
Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman Amer is an Egyptian blogger and former law student. He was arrested by Egyptian authorities for posts on his that were considered to be anti-religious and insulting to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak...
, Elmahdy publicly challenged Egypt’s social strictures. Elmahdy became known for publishing a nude photo in her Blogspot blog, which she described in Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
as "screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy". Since then she became a subject of several death threats.
A student of the American University of Cairo, Elmahdy positioned herself as a "secular, liberal, feminist, vegetarian, individualist Egyptian" and an atheist since turning 16. Earlier in 2011 Elmahdy and Amer posted mobile video footage, where they debate with managers of a public park who expelled them for public display of affection. A case, filed by Islamic law graduates, accused Elmahdy and Amer of "violating morals, inciting indecency and insulting Islam".
Nude photo
Elmahdy posted the nude photo on October 23, 2011 and according to her tweet, took the photo herself in the "parent's home months before" she met Amer. The photo was subsequently published on TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
with the hashtag #nudephotorevolutionary.
Reactions
Elmahdy's blog received over 2 million hits with a number of insults. Pages for both support and protest against Elmahdy's action have been opened on FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. Fearing of becoming tainted in the eyes of Islamic conservatives
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
, Egyptian liberals distanced themselves from Elmahdy. The April 6 Youth Movement
April 6 Youth Movement
The April 6 Youth Movement is an Egyptian Facebook group started in Spring 2008 to support the workers in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, an industrial town, who were planning to strike on April 6....
issued a statement denying claims that Elmahdy is a member of the group.
Egyptian expatriates, Western-based Arab journalists and representatives of American art community have expressed their support. Iranian-born activist Maryam Namazie
Maryam Namazie
Maryam Namazie is a human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. Namazie has served as the executive director of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees. She is spokesperson for the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain. The campaign is opposed to faith based laws...
defined Elmahdy's action as "a scream against Islamism" and "the ultimate act of rebellion". According to actress Amanda Banoub
Amanda Banoub
Amanda Banoub is an Egyptian American actress. Her mother and father were both born and raised in Cairo, Egypt.In May 2009, Banoub appeared in a four-page spread for NOX Magazine....
, Elmahdy "displayed genuine purity and modesty without a single layer of clothing". Recalling the virginity test
Virginity test
A virginity test is the practice and process of determining whether a female is a virgin, ie., whether she has engaged in sexual intercourse. The test involves an inspection of a female's hymen, on the assumption that her hymen can only be torn as a result of sexual intercourse.Virginity testing is...
s carried out by the military to women in Tahrir Square, Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltaway noted that Elmahdy "is the Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
thrown at the Mubaraks in our heads — the dictators of our mind — which insists that revolutions cannot succeed without a tidal wave of cultural changes that upend misogyny and sexual hypocrisy".
About forty Israeli women gathered via Facebook to "show support in a non-violent and legitimate way for a woman who is just like us — young, ambitious, full of dreams and evidently has a developed sense of humor". The participants were photographed behind a sign saying "love without limits" and "Homage to Aliaa Elmahdi. Sisters in Israel".