Italian Belly Dancer Arrested in Egypt for Offending Public Morals

Linda Martino, an Italian belly dancer, was arrested in Egypt.
She faces charges related to offending public morals.
The arrest occurred at Cairo airport as she was traveling to Dubai.
Authorities allege she possessed money from immoral activities.
Several women have been arrested in similar cultural crackdowns.
Egyptian dancers are advocating for belly dancing recognition.
Amie Sultan is leading efforts to preserve this cultural heritage.

Italian Dancer Arrested for Allegedly Offending Morals

In a surprising turn of events, an Italian belly dancer was arrested in Egypt for allegedly offending public morals. Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, known professionally as Linda Martino, was taken into custody by Egyptian authorities at Cairo airport as she was attempting to fly to Dubai. Known for her stunning performances, Haggag has amassed a significant following on social media, boasting over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, according to reports from Italian news service ANSA as cited by La Repubblica.

Serious Allegations and Legal Challenges Await

Haggag, who was born in Egypt but later became a naturalized citizen through her marriage to an Italian, faces serious allegations. The authorities claim she was found with considerable sums of money believed to be from activities considered immoral. The indictment states that Haggag was seen performing in what officials describe as indecent clothing, which they argue blatantly violates public morals and social values, highlighting a growing crackdown on the arts under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s administration.

Cultural Backlash and the Fight for Recognition

This incident is not an isolated one as previous crackdowns on cultural dancers have occurred in the past five years, resulting in several arrests, including that of her fellow dancer, Katerina Andreeva, who received a year in prison. Conversely, there is an ongoing movement among prominent belly dancers in Egypt seeking to have the dance form recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Leading the charge is Amie Sultan, a prominent Egyptian actress and dancer, advocating for the preservation of the art that she believes embodies the rich history of Egypt.

To sum up, the arrest of Linda Martino in Egypt highlights the significant tension between cultural expression and government regulation. With ongoing crackdowns on artists and dancers, the future of belly dancing in Egypt remains uncertain. Furthermore, the efforts to preserve this cultural heritage reflect a push against the stigmatization of the form as authorities continue their efforts to impose moral standards.