Lebanese Get Naked in Support of Topless Skier

Lebanese professionals have rallied behind Jackie Chamoun

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Beirut is rocked by car bombs, the country, once again, teetering on the brink of war, a new civil movement has sprung up - and they're not wearing any clothes

Hundreds of Lebanese professionals are posting nude pictures of themselves online in solidarity with Jackie Chamoun, the 22-year-old Lebanese Olympic skier, who was this week publicly scorned by the country's politicians for participating in a risqué photo-shoot.

The "I Am Not Naked" campaign, in which people are invited to strip off their clothes and be photographed, covering their private areas with a round sign saying #StripForJackie, was started on the spur of the moment by friends of Ms Chamoun.

"It took us a few hours to launch the idea and the Facebook page on Tuesday," said Mohamad Abdouni, a co-organiser of the campaign and the editor for a Lebanese arts magazine. "I went to bed at 6am and when I woke up at 10am on the same day, I found 4,000 likes on the Facebook page!"

The campaign has since taken Lebanese media by storm, dominating chat shows, newspapers and social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook. And it has gone beyond Ms Chamoun's breasts, kickstarting the conversation about what kind of a society Lebanon wants to be. » | Ruth Sherlock, Beirut | Thursday, February 13, 2014

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Sochi 2014: Lebanese Skier Causes Controversy Over Topless Photos

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Lebanese skier taking part in Sochi has apologised for racy photos after country's sports minister called for an inquiry

A Lebanese skier competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics has sparked controversy back home after posing topless for a calendar.

The photos, which show Jackie Chamoun, 22, standing in snow holding strategically placed ski equipment to protect her modesty, were out-takes from an official photoshoot for the Austrian sports calendar.

Chamoun insisted that the risque pictures were not meant to go public, but local media were quick to accuse the alpine skier of "shaming" her country.

Lebanon is considered one of the most liberal countries in the Arab World, where women are free to wear skimpy clothes and where alcohol is widely available.

However, sections of society remain conservative by Western standards, and some took objection.

Faisal Karami, youth and sports minister, said he was asking Lebanon’s Olympic committee to look into the photos to ensure “the protection of Lebanon’s reputation.’’ » | Josie Ensor | Wednesday, February 12, 2014