Cairo: An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced two local belly dancers to six months in prison each on charges of inciting debauchery in the latest crackdown on controversial performers in the conservative country.
The Agouza Misdemeanour Court in Cairo convicted Bardis, 29, and Egyptian Shakira, 28, of inciting debauchery by performing in two separate “outrageous” videos, which went viral on social media in recent months, triggering a huge controversy.
The ruling can be appealed.
The two defendants had denied in investigations the charges, accusing directors of their videos of instructing them to perform in a steamy way to attract the audience.
No legal action has been taken against the directors.
Bardis’ video You, Sober Guy and Egyptian Shakira’s Pepper & Cumin were repeatedly broadcast on private music TV stations until the two performers were arrested in July in response to legal complaints filed by lawyers against them.
The claimants had accused them of outraging public morality and harming Egyptian women’s image.
In the controversial videos, they appear clad in revealing clothes, with detractors saying their performances are full of sexual insinuations.
Earlier this year, another court sentenced a female singer and two men to one year in prison for participating in a racy music video.
In July, an appeals court reduced the sentence to six months in jail.
