Top belly dancer jailed for 'insulting' Egyptian flag

Armenian national Safinaz performed in an outfit fashioned after Egyptian flag in July 2014


Web Desk April 21, 2015
Safinaz performed in an outfit fashioned after Egyptian flag in July 2014. PHOTO COURTESY: GULF NEWS

CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced on Monday a celebrated belly dancer to six months in prison for ‘insulting’ the country’s flag during a performance.


PHOTO COURTESY: CTV NEWS


On Monday, 30-year-old Safinaz was also fined 15,000 Egyptian pounds and ordered to pay 10,000 Egyptian pounds in bail by the Cairo Misdemeanour Court.

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Before the announcement of the verdict, Safinaz’s counsel argued that his client is an Armenian national and was unaware of the laws prevalent in the country.

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He added that she did not mean to offend anyone by performing in an outfit fashioned after the Egyptian flag in July 2014.


PHOTO COURTESY: THE CAIRO POST


“It was a message of love to Egypt and its people,” Safinaz said.

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It is an offence in Egypt to insult the national flag or anthem and has a penalty of a maximum 30,000 Egyptian pounds or up to a year imprisonment.

This piece originally appeared on Gulf News.

COMMENTS (1)

Jameel ur Rasheed | 9 years ago | Reply They would bring shame to the entire nation but ousting a publicly selected president while would feel ashamed of an artist dancing with the flag. Pathetic!
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