Culture
08:03, 13-Dec-2017
Egyptian singer jailed over video inciting debauchery
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An Egyptian singer who appeared in a music video in her underwear suggestively eating a banana has been jailed for two years for inciting debauchery, judicial sources said.
Shyma, who was also fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds (560 US dollars) on Tuesday, can appeal the verdict to a higher court.
The little-known singer, whose real name is Shaimaa Ahmed, was arrested on Nov. 18 before being referred to the prosecution for investigation. She denied the accusations, saying the director included the controversial scenes for the song, “I have issues,” without her consent.
The director was also fined and sentenced to two years in prison, but in absentia. Both defendants were accused of inciting debauchery and producing a video harming public morality.
The video sparked controversy on social media in the conservative country.
Shyma had apologized before her arrest to people who took the song in an inappropriate way.
"I didn't imagine all this would happen and that I would be subjected to such a strong attack from everyone," she wrote on her now-deleted Facebook page.
Dozens of young Egyptians were arrested in September for attending a concert in Cairo where a rainbow flag was raised. They were also accused of debauchery, harming public morality and other accusations.
Source(s): Reuters