Thursday March 28th, 2024
Download SceneNow app
Copied

Social Media Anger Rising Over Intissar's Defense of Porn

Controversial chat show 'Nafsana' is making headlines already as co-host Intissar encourages people to watch porn.

Staff Writer

Quickly garnering the reputation as one Egypt’s most controversial show, Nafsana (Giving Vent to Feelings), is coming under fire after co-host, Egyptian actress Intissar encouraged young people to watch porn.

With sexual harassment considered an epidemic in the nation, the television station Al Qahera wel Nas held a debate to discuss whether porn was hurting or benefitting the nation. Making the case for porn freedom, 44-year old actress and mother, Entissar, not only admitted to watching porn, but rejected any calls to block it from websites or TV stations.

Here is the full episode. Porn talk begins 22 minutes in:

Speaking on Nafsana, Intissar expressed that “Those who fear falling into a 'sexual' sin prohibited by religion can cool down by watching porn films.” Often painted as a black or white issue, the topic of porn finds itself lying somewhere amongst the fifty shades of grey spectrum. With many Egyptian males unable to afford the high cost of marriage, Intissar believes porn is not only practical for those suffering from income disparity, but also states that “These films are useful for men, especially those who have no premarital sex experience,” adding that “everyone should be free in watching porn films if they want.”

Considering that Egypt is still a conservative country, and any talk of sex is still viewed as taboo, her statements were met with fury over social media channels.

 




No matter what side of the debate you are on there should be no argument that Egypt needs a serious discussion on the matter of sexual education. A 2013 UN report found that 99.3% of women in Egypt have experienced some form of sexual harassment, and this staggering and embarrassing figure highlights that not talking about sex is definitely not a strategy towards tackling this terrible crime.

Either side of this issue can point to studies online supporting their position as many countries share mixed opinions on the possible benefits of porn. What is evident in Egypt is that education as a whole is troubling, and the fact that there is no form of sexual education or discussion on the matter leaves many youth seeking their own answers, which according to the UN figure, is clearly failing to protect women from harassment.