Page 7 - IAV Digital Magazine #622

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Italian Belly Dancer Arrested In Egypt For ‘Using Seductive Techniques’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onBbbMaAo_4
Josephine McKenna
An Italian belly dancer has been arrested and detained in Egypt for “using seductive techniques”. Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag is a naturalised Italian, but was born in Egypt and holds Egyptian citizenship. She dances under the name of Linda Martino and has more than two million followers on social media.
Egyptian authorities arrest- ed her at Cairo airport on June 22, accusing her of corrupting public morals with her provocative danc- ing.
The investigation was trig- gered by videos on her Instagram account, in which she writhes around in revealing clothing and
describes herself as “more than you can handle”.
Investigators said Ms Haggag “appeared in inde- cent clothing, deliberately exposing sensitive areas of the body, in blatant viola- tion of social values”.
She was reported to be in possession of substantial sums of money at the time of her arrest, which authori- ties described as the pro- ceeds of “activities liable to instigate depravity”.
The Cairo prosecutor accused her of having “used seductive techniques and provocative dances to incite vice”.
She is expected to remain in jail for at least another
two weeks, according to reports.
The Italian embassy in Cairo is seeking urgent clarification on her case.
Ms Haggag moved to Egypt several years ago and has built a highly suc- cessful career. She was previously married to an Italian and is said to have relatives in the Veneto region.
Her videos, often shot in popular venues to Egyptian hits, have attracted millions of views on Instagram and TikTok.
The indictments include investigations into a cabaret on Egypt’s north coast, where Ms Haggag
“appeared in indecent clothing, deliberately exposing sensitive areas of her body, in clear violation of public morals and social values”
“The investigations have ascertained that Linda used seduction techniques and provocative dances to incite vice,” the document read.
Egypt has clamped down on artists and influencers accused of undermining public morality in recent years.
Under the government of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, at least five belly dancers have ended up in jail on charges similar to those against Ms Haggag, Italian media reported.
Katerina Andreeva, another belly dancer, has been given a one-year jail sen- tence on the same charges, Italian media reported.
The Egyptian
crackdown comes despite efforts by Unesco to recog- nize belly dancing on its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Amie Sultan, an Egyptian actress and currently one of the country’s best-known belly dancers, has been pushing to give belly danc- ing a better reputation in its country of origin.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine