An Italian belly dancer of Egyptian descent was arrested in her native country for “using seductive techniques,” according to media reports.
Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, an Egyptian-born woman who has gained Italian citizenship, was detained by authorities at Cairo International Airport on June 22. She faces allegations of undermining public morals due to her risqué dance performances, according to The Telegraph.
Prosecutors in Cairo said she “used seductive techniques and provocative dances to incite vice.”
During her arrest, she was found with a “substantial” amount of money, the news report said. The Italian embassy in Cairo was seeking her release.
People crowd a street a few hours ahead of curfew in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, April 14, 2020. (Nariman El-Mofty/AP Photo)
Haggag is expected to stay in detention for a minimum of another two weeks. Reports indicate that she returned to Egypt several years earlier, where she established a flourishing career. She was once married to an Italian man, as mentioned in the report.
In recent times, Egypt has intensified its efforts against actions perceived as morally controversial. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, five belly dancers have been imprisoned on charges akin to those filed against Haggag, as reported by Italian media.
