Pious lady breaking taboo of sexuality

Breaking the taboo of sexuality in the Middle East is often regarded as the endeavor of 'Westernized' minds. The reason for this is not quite irrational. Western modernity has influenced the Middle East in various ways and since a very long time, so it is quite likely that its way of dealing with sexuality - for those who are uninformed: sexuality is generally an accepted topic of conversation in Western societies since the 1960's - has found cheerleaders in Middle Eastern societies too.

It is in this respect quite a suprise if you see a pious Muslim lady on Egyptian television encouraging people to have more sex. I'm talking about Heba Kotb¹, a female Egyptian sex therapist. She has her own tv show in which she answers questions on sexuality and advises the audience on sexual topics.

In her shows she appears to say, among others, that couples should have sex all the time to keep the relation interesting. They should also mix up positions and not fear explorations.² I stop telling more right now, cause otherwise my blog will probably appear in the list of those Middle Eastern guys googling for "sex"!

I guess you are curious about Kotb's source of inspiration... Well, you might not believe it, but one of them is just the Qur'an!

See Kotb's website for more information: http://www.hebakotb.net

1. I'm not sure whether this is an alternative spelling of Qutb. If so, it woul be interesting to check whether she's a relative of Said Qutb! (No I'm not serious on this)
2. "The Dr. Ruth of the Muslim World", in ABC News, 11 April 2007. Available at http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3027905&page=1 (accessed on 05/24/07)