According to the Al-Yawm al-Sabi website the women have been given a month to slim down, and it won’t let the women appear on air unless they do so.
The move by the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) has sparked outrage among women’s rights groups, with one calling the broadcaster’s actions “a violation of the constitution”.
The broadcaster has a female director, who is also a former TV anchor herself.
Khadija Khattab, a host on Egypt’s Channel 2 said she wanted people to watch her most recent TV appearances in order to judge for themselves if she was really “fat” and if she should be prevented from working.
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The action by the state broadcaster has caused wide-spread debate among Egypt’s media. Despite having received much criticism, the ERTU has said the decision would not be reversed, although it has conceded the women would not have their pay and benefits docked.
Egyptian woman’s rights group, the Women’s Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness, has slammed the actions of the ERTU, calling the suspension of the eight presenters “a form of violence against women”.
While there has been some social media support for presenters, others have taken to name-calling the women on various social platforms.
The plight of the presenters has also been debated in Egypt’s parliament.
According to the news site, Sada al-Balad, male MP Sayyid Hegazy questioned Egypt’s benchmark for an ideal weight, although he spoke highly of Khadja Khattab’s abilities.
“She might be a little overweight,” he told the news site: “but she is eloquent”.
