Egyptian artist defies Islamic extremism by posting nude self-photos on web

A 20-year-old Egyptian blogger has defied Islamic prudes in her country by posting nude photographs of herself on the Internet

"I have the right to live freely in any place. I feel happy and self satisfied when I feel that I'm really free" Aliaa Magda Elmahdy wrote on her blog.

Under the heading "fan a'ry," which means nude art, Elmahdy posted several pictures of herself in the buff, including one with strategically placed yellow rectangles, the New York Daily News reports.

"The yellow rectangles on my eyes, mouth and sex organ resemble the censoring of our knowledge, expression and sexuality," she explained.

Elmahdy, a media arts student at the American University in Cairo, wrote on her Facebook page that she was "echoing screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy."

Elmahdy took the pictures at her parent's place. Her blog also has a photo of a seated naked man holding a guitar.

While placing provocative pictures on the Web rarely raise eyebrows in the West, in an increasingly conservative Egypt what Elmahdy did is an unprecedented act of defiance.