An Iraqi actress and talk show presenter has filed a lawsuit against The Economist for using her picture to illustrate a piece on how women in the Arab world are heavier than males.
Enas Taleb, 42, a well-known television personality in Iraq, was upset nine months ago when she saw a picture of herself during a performance at Iraq’s annual cultural Babylon Festival with the caption “fat ladies.”
The actress informed New Lines Magazine that she has chosen to sue The Economist over their cover article.
‘I am seeking compensation for the emotional, mental, and social harm caused by this occurrence,’ she stated after the story was published on July 28.
Taleb claimed that the photograph was used inappropriately and without her consent, infringing on her freedom and privacy. According to the BBC, she also claimed it was manipulated.
The paper in question aimed to examine the cultural, societal, and economic variables that contribute to women being more obese than males in the Middle East and North Africa.
It highlights the sedentary lifestyle of Arab women who are prohibited from leaving the home, as well as the carb-heavy diet and fatty foods that are more readily accessible to the poorest sectors of the community.
Other plausible explanations include a scarcity of women in the workforce and the fact that Arab males like overweight women.
‘Iraqis often regard Enas Taleb, an actress with generous curves (pictured), as the epitome of beauty,’ according to the report.
Taleb described the piece as a “insult to all Arab women in general” and “insult to Iraqi women in particular.”
‘For many years, audiences have adored me. ‘It was disheartening to see a worldwide media identify me as if all of my achievements were nothing,’ she added.
‘I am healthy and satisfied with how I appear, and that is all that counts to me.’
The august British journal’s piece received condemnation from throughout the Arab world, with some condemning its “contemptuous tone” and others challenging its inadequate understanding of Arab society.
Others called it “racist,” “sexist,” and “shaming” of Arab women.
‘In response to The Economist essay, several readers expressed their disbelief at what they characterized as a double standard in the debate about women’s bodies in the West vs in ‘other’ countries,’ Rasha Al Aqeedi wrote in her post for New Lines Magazine.
‘Plus-size performers like Lizzo and models like Ashley Graham are lauded for their roles in popularizing the body-positive movement. It’s rare to find an example of a globally regarded journal using a picture of a “fat” Western lady to shame her,’ she said.
The Arab News criticized its ‘outdated picture of Arab women as’mere inactive housewives,’ although acknowledging that there is a widespread agreement in the MENA nations on the problem of female obesity.
Taleb, a married mother of two, has been a beloved and comforting presence on Iraqi television since her debut in 1996, when she was 16 years old. She has been in advertisements and music videos on a regular basis for the last two decades.
When she discovered that the Economist had exploited her picture in this way, her 9 million Instagram followers gave her more attention and clout to fight back.
In an interview with Saudi-funded al-Arabiya TV, she said that The Economist was unaware that she was a star and popular figure. ‘I can transform disasters into opportunities.’
The Economist did not reply to inquiries about the piece.