Egypt: 5 women jailed for 2 years for making ‘objectionable’ TikTok videos

An Egyptian court has sentenced five women for two years in prison for posting “objectionable” dance videos. Critics have called the ruling a crackdown on conservative Egyptian society. According to a statement issued by the public prosecutor on Monday, the women were convicted of violating family values ​​and principles in Egypt. The women’s lawyers have announced to file an appeal in the high court against the decision.

Among the women sentenced is 20-year-old student Haneen Hassam and 22-year-old Mouda al-Adham. The other three women have been convicted of running social media accounts for the two women. Each convicted woman has been fined 300,000 Egyptian pounds.

The two women, who have millions of followers on the video app ‘TikTok‘, posted 15-second videos of themselves putting on make-up, riding in cars and dancing in the kitchen, which are normal videos on ‘TikTok’. It should be noted that under Egyptian law, posting objectionable material on social media can be punished. However, human rights groups have called it a restriction on expression. In Egypt, belly dancers, pop music fans and those who post such videos on social media apps often face criticism.