An Egyptian lawyer has sparked outrage after saying women who wear ripped jeans deserve to be sexually harassed and raped.

Nabih al-Wahsh, a prominent conservative, said it was part of the “national duty” to rape women wearing such garments, adding that girls who wear revealing clothing are inviting men to harass them.

He made the controversial comments during a current affairs talk show called Infirad on satellite channel AI-Assema.

The panel were having a heated debate on a draft law on prostitution when al-Wahsh asked: "Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing?"

He added: “I say that when a girl walks about like that, it is a patriotic duty to sexually harass her and a national duty to rape her.”