Dubai Woman Rattles Arab World With Sex Advice Book

A Dubai marriage counselor is making waves in the Arab world with a frank book on sexuality, the New York Times reports. Wedad Lootah, a former Islamic scholar, grounds her book of erotic advice in the teachings of the Koran. She discusses taboo subjects such as homosexuality and urges readers to celebrate the female orgasm. “Even my family ask why I must talk about this," said Lootah. "I say: ‘These problems happen every day and should not be ignored. This is the reality we are living.'”

Lootah, who wears a full niqab that leaves only her eyes showing, had her book approved by Dubai's highest religious scholar, but she has still received death threats. She says she was inspired to write by the cases she dealt with at work, including a 52-year-old grandmother who had never experienced sexual pleasure before seeking counseling, and a woman who mistakenly believed fellatio was against Islam.
(More United Arab Emirates stories.)