An Egyptian-Italian belly dancer was arrested in Egypt on the grounds of allegedly violating public morals through her social media presence. Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, who operates under the name Linda Martino on Instagram, was detained by authorities on June 22 at Cairo International Airport for using ‘seductive methods’ in her dance clips.
Haggag, who is an Egyptian dual citizen, has gained more than 2.2 million followers on Instagram by posting dance videos in skimpy clothing.
She presents herself on Instagram as ‘More than you can handle’. Her videos, the investigators say, featured deliberately exposed parts of the body and ‘indecent attire’, which they say are against local values.
The New York Post reports that Cairo prosecutors officially accused her of ‘inciting vice’ through sexually suggestive stage shows and salacious content.
At the time of her arrest, officials also found her in possession of what they characterized as a ‘substantial’ sum of money. The Italian Embassy in Cairo has since stepped in, seeking consular access and release.
Crackdown on Online Morality
Haggag returned to Egypt a few years back after breaking up with her Italian boyfriend and deciding to establish a successful dance career. She will spend at least another two weeks in jail as the investigation is ongoing.
Her case highlights a broader campaign under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in which Egyptian authorities have intensified efforts to police online content deemed immoral.
Over the last few years, Egypt has tightened social media regulations, leading to the arrest of at least five other belly dancers on similar charges.
A prominent case was in 2020 when the dancer Sama el-Masry was handed a three-year jail term and a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds for supposedly posting sexually explicit content.
El-Masry asserted that she was innocent since her own private content had been leaked illegally, according to The Guardian.
Criticism of Egypt’s Cybercrime Laws
Human rights groups have condemned Egypt’s expansive 2018 cybercrime law, under which authorities have sweeping powers to suppress online content.
The laws stipulate that those operating social media accounts that violate public decency may be sentenced to at least two years in jail and fines of as much as 300,000 Egyptian pounds.
