Egyptian-Italian belly dancer detained in Cairo for “offending public morals”

Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, an Egyptian-born belly dancer who became an Italian citizen through marriage and performs under the stage name “Linda Martino,” has been arrested in Cairo on charges of corrupting public morals, according to The Telegraph.

Authorities launched an investigation after she shared provocative dance videos with her 2.2 million Instagram followers. Prosecutors claim she “used seductive techniques and provocative dances to incite vice” and said she was found carrying large sums of money, which they described as proceeds from “activities liable to instigate depravity.”

Haggag, who moved to Europe after marrying an Italian businessman, returned to Egypt following their divorce last year, according to the Daily Mail. At her hearing, she defended her work, saying: “Belly dancing is an art. I did not incite debauchery or vice. My performances are not a crime.”

While belly dancing is legal in Egypt, there are strict rules governing public performances and costumes. Haggag is accused of “exposing sensitive areas of the body, in blatant violation of social values.”

In the past two years, at least 14 belly dancers have been arrested as part of Egypt’s wider crackdown on performers and influencers deemed to undermine public morality, the Daily Mail reports. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, several dancers have faced similar charges. Katerina Andreeva, another belly dancer, was recently sentenced to a year in prison on the same grounds.

The Italian embassy in Cairo is reportedly seeking further information on Haggag’s case.