It's getting hot in here: Middle Easterners getting naked for a cause

In a region traditionally thought of as conservative when it comes to revealing glimpses of the female form, women are increasingly getting their kit off. Today we take a look at the ladies who have bared it all for fun, self-promotion and protest.Nadia Bo Siteh flashed her assets to promote her new film, much to the chagrin of many Tunisians; while in Egypt Alia Al-Mahdi’s nude stand against sexual violence [1] provoked both applause and anger.Lebanese lovely Reema Fakeh was lucky not to be stripped of her U.S. beauty pageant crown [2] after photos emerged of the naughty nancy showing off her pole dancing skills. While Iranian activist Mariam Namazie refused to let her conservative country stand in the way of her naked ambitions. Perhaps most bizarrely of all, Lebanese anchorwoman Ahood shocked viewers when she trailed a businessman to a nudist beach in France for an interview, which was conducted completely naked. Now that’s dedication to the story!Get ready for the naked truth as we hit you with the shocking, scandalous and saucy stories of our favorite famous stripped off ladies. [3]

Have your say! Are you shocked by these Arab merchants of scandal and vice? Are you disgraced or disappointed by Muslims unveiling a little too much? Or do you think the shame should be reserved for a society so easily scandalized?

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Actress Nadia Bo Siteh took promoting movies to a new level with a risque cover shoot. The saucy snap didn’t sit well with fellow Tunisians who accused the starlet of making the country’s women look like nothing more than ‘cheap products’. But Nadia was unapologetic, saying her flash of flesh was a form of freedom of expression.

Alia Al-Mahdi’s unusual approach to tackling sexual violence and harassment against women in Egypt caused quite a stir when the activist posted naked pictures of herself on her blog. Recently, the racy rebel was at it again, stripping off in Sweden to protest Egypt’s controversial constitution.

Reema Fakeh might have looked like a picture of sophistication when she was crowned Queen at the US’ national beauty pageant in 2010. But a few days after the event, leaked pole-dancing pictures showed the Lebanese beauty looking less demure. The snaps caused quite a splash and Reema was left lucky not to be stripped of her crown.

Iranian activist Mariam Namazie was banned from visiting her country after posing for a nude calendar with some Femen activists. Undeterred from her naked ambitions, Mariam hit back at the ban with more nudity by baring all in a promotional video for the calendar.

Ibtissam Lachgar’s persistent promotion of same-sex relationships as part of the ‘Mali Movement’ has long since been a source of annoyance for many more-conservative Moroccans. The activist did little to quieten her critics when she flashed more than a bit of flesh in France to push for ‘marriage for all’!