Italian Belly Dancer Arrested For Making "Seductive" Instagram Videos

A belly dancer, known as Linda Martino on Instagram, was detained in Egypt for allegedly using "seductive techniques" in her dance videos. Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, who has dual citizenship in Egypt and Italy, was arrested at Cairo International Airport on June 22. She has a significant following of 2.2 million on Instagram, where she shares videos of herself dancing in revealing outfits.

Charges Against Belly Dancer:

Prosecutors in Cairo have charged Ms Haggag with inciting vice through provocative dances and seductive techniques. Investigators claim she violated societal norms by displaying sensitive body parts while wearing indecent clothing. At the time of her arrest, she reportedly had a substantial amount of cash with her.

The Italian embassy in Cairo has intervened, requesting her release and access to her. Despite having Italian citizenship, Ms Haggag returned to Egypt after ending a relationship with an Italian partner and building a successful career there. She is expected to remain in custody for at least two more weeks.

Recent Crackdown on Morality

Egypt has recently tightened regulations concerning acts deemed morally questionable. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government, at least five other belly dancers have been arrested on similar charges related to morality. This crackdown is part of broader efforts to enforce stricter societal norms.

In 2020, dancer Sama el-Masry faced similar accusations and was sentenced to three years in prison along with a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds for sharing sexually provocative images online. She denied the allegations, stating that the content was stolen from her phone and shared without consent.

Human Rights Concerns Over Belly Dancer's Arrest

Human rights organisations have criticised these cases and the vaguely defined cyberlaws enacted in 2018. According to these laws, anyone operating an online account found violating them may face imprisonment for at least two years and fines up to 300,000 Egyptian pounds. Critics argue that such laws are used to suppress freedom of expression.