Egyptian-Italian Belly Dancer Arrested in Cairo Over Public Morals Violation

Cairo: An Egyptian naturalised Italian belly dancer has been detained in Cairo on charges of offending public morals, as part of an ongoing crackdown on the traditional dance form. This marks the fifth such arrest in Egypt over the past five years, according to a report by la Repubblica daily.

According to Ansa News Agency, the dancer, Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, known professionally as Linda Martino, was apprehended at Cairo airport while en route to Dubai two weeks ago. Martino, a well-known figure in Egypt and a top social media influencer, was reportedly found with substantial sums of money, which authorities claim are the proceeds of “activities liable to instigate depravity.”

Linda Martino, originally born in Egypt, acquired Italian citizenship through marriage to an Italian national. Despite her Italian citizenship, Egyptian authorities still consider her an Egyptian citizen. The legal process is underway, although her first hearing date has not been scheduled.

Another belly dancer, Katerina Andreeva, has received a one-year jail sentence with hard labor on similar charges. The indictments against Martino include an investigation into a cabaret on Egypt’s North Coast, where she allegedly appeared in indecent clothing, violating public morals and social values. Egyptian authorities claim that Martino utilized seduction techniques and provocative dances to incite vice.

This crackdown on belly dancing comes amid efforts to have Egyptian belly-dancing recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage art. Amie Sultan, an Egyptian dancer and actress, is actively working to restore the reputation of Oriental dance in Egypt. Sultan is a vocal critic of the changes that Oriental dance has undergone in the country since the early 2000s, aiming for its recognition as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.