by J.D. Durkin Eight television anchors in Egypt have been suspended by their
network until they lose weight, an incident that has sparked wild
controversy in the nation and the role of the state-run media outlet. The state broadcaster Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) have
given the women involved one month to pursue an “appropriate
appearance” for their on-air duties.

One of those women, Khadija Khattab, has challenged
the viewers of Egypt’s Channel 2 to judge for themselves if she really
is “fat,” offering up her last several TV appearances as proof. The
Women’s Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness spoke out swiftly
against the move, identifying the broadcaster’s take as a form of
violence against women and noting that it “violates the constitution.” To the surprise of many, the ERTU is run by a female director — Safaa Hegazy — herself a longtime on-air anchor. The BBC points out that the debate has raged on social media in the
country, with the cruelest viewers using the derogatory term
“bakabouzas” to describe the women. “One female Twitter user described
ERTU head Safaa Hegazy as a “strong woman” for making the decision,” they report.