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Actress Enas Taleb sues The Economist for using her picture to claim 'Arabic women are fatter than men'

The actress claimed that the photo had been altered and that it had been used out of context without her consent, compromising her privacy

BASRAH, IRAQ: Prominent Iraqi actress Enas Taleb is suing The Economist for misusing her photo in an article about Arab women being "fatter than men." According to BBC, she claimed that the photo had been altered and that it had been used out of context without her consent, compromising her privacy. The star claimed that she had filed a lawsuit in the UK. The Economist article ‘Why women are fatter than men in the Arab world’ argued that poverty and societal restrictions were among the reasons behind keeping women at home, causing them to be more overweight than men. It was published in late July and used a photo of Taleb taken nine months ago at the Babylon International Festival in Iraq.

The article also mentions the possibility that some men find curves more attractive. According to the article, “Iraqis often cite Enas Taleb, an actress with ample curves, as the ideal of beauty.” Taleb argued that the piece was offensive to Arab women in general and Iraqi women in particular, and questioned why The Economist chose to take an interest in Arab women rather than ‘fat women’ in Europe or the US.

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The Iraqi star told New Lines magazine that she was in good health and liked how she looked. “To me, that is all that matters," she remarked. The 42-year-old has nine million Instagram followers and is one of Iraq's most well-known actresses. In an interview with al-Arabiya TV, she said, "I can turn crises into gains." Meanwhile, on social media, the article was criticized for being ‘racist,’ and ‘sexist.’

One person wrote, "Hi @TheEconomist can you explain why you keep posting racist sexist stuff!!?" "And again, the racist Western stereotype of Arab families. Arab women aren't fat because they are at home all day, they are because our entire culture and society is about food and hospitality. Try to visit any Palestinian home and not feel like a stuffed turkey afterwards!" another added. "I’m one of many Arab ladies who has the curvy body type, which I fully embrace myself and men has nothing to do with it. Complete BS by @TheEconomist. Happy to hear Enas Taleb is taking a legal action against them, well deserved," yet another user remarked. Meanwhile, The Economist has not commented on the issue yet.