Egyptian lawyer claimed men had 'national duty' to rape women

Nabih al-Wahsh claimed men had a 'national duty' to rape women who wore ripped jeans. Photo / Getty Images

An Egyptian lawyer has been sentenced to three years in prison for saying that women who wear ripped jeans should be raped as punishment.

Nabih al-Wahsh, a prominent conservative, was also fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (NZ$1641).

The lawyer made the claim on a TV show in October, during a debate on a draft law on prostitution.

"Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing?" Wahsh said.

"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."

Nabih al-Wahsh has previously denied the Holocaust.

Wahsh went further, saying that women who wore revealing clothing were "inviting men to harass them", and said "protecting morals is more important than protecting borders".

His comments sparked a national outcry and led to his prosecution.

The National Council for Women's Rights has condemned the remarks, saying they were a "flagrant call" for rape, in violation of "everything in the Egyptian constitution".

The council has now filed a complaint about the statement to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation about the broadcast debate.

Wahsh has previously called the Holocaust "imaginary" and declared himself a proud anti-Semite.

"If I see any Israeli, I will kill him," he said during a separate TV panel show.

In October last year, Wahsh was involved in a TV studio brawl with a cleric, after the cleric suggested women should not necessarily have to wear a headscarf.