Egyptian lawyer says it's a 'national duty' to rape women wearing revealing outfits
A conservative Egyptian lawyer sparked major backlash during a televised panel discussion when he said it is a man's "national duty" to rape women wearing revealing clothing, according to Variety Alarabiya.
Nabih al-Wahsh appeared on the TV program "Infrad Show," which is hosted by Saeed Hassaseen, to discuss the controversy surrounding a draft law meant to fight prostitution in Egypt.
During the discussion, al-Wahsh outraged Hassaseen after claiming that women who choose to wear revealing clothing deserved to be raped.
"Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing?" al-Wahsh pressed the host, according to a translation. "I say that when a girl walks about like that, it is a patriotic duty to sexually harass her and a national duty to rape her."
“Women must respect themselves so others respect them. Protecting morals is more important than protecting borders," he added.
His contentious statements come just weeks after Cairo was declared the most dangerous megacity in the world for women.
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The lawyer's comments prompted Egypt’s National Council for Women (NCW) to announce its plans to file a complaint against the television channel and against al-Wahsh himself.
"Harassment has nothing to do with a woman's clothing," Maya Morsi, head of the NCW, said in a statement.
"Women and their freedom must be respected, and they must be protected in the street."
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