An Italian-Egyptian belly dancer’s arrest in Cairo over her Instagram videos has triggered a heated diplomatic row, with Italy demanding answers and critics slamming Egypt’s widening crackdown on online “morality.”
Caught at the Airport, Held for Her Videos
The drama unfolded on June 22, when 32-year-old Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag—better known by her stage name Linda Martino—was detained by Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport.
She wasn’t smuggling drugs. She wasn’t under a terror alert. She was arrested over her Instagram.
Police said Martino had violated “social values” by posting “indecent” belly dancing clips. The charge? Public immorality. The evidence? A series of sultry reels in which she twirls, sways, and flashes her smile—often in form-fitting costumes—while calling herself “more than you can handle.”
Egypt’s Morality Police: Still Active and Watching
This isn’t the first time Egypt has clamped down on women for what they post online. Over the past few years, TikTok influencers, singers, and models have been arrested for videos deemed too provocative or “inconsistent with Egyptian family principles.”
Martino’s arrest fits right into that pattern. Officials say she used “seductive techniques” to attract followers and “deliberately exposed sensitive parts of her body” online.
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In a statement leaked to local media, authorities said Martino’s content was “inconsistent with public decency” and accused her of “corrupting morals” on social media. That’s a criminal offense under Egypt’s 2018 cybercrime law, which allows surveillance and prosecution of content deemed a threat to societal norms.
‘Substantial’ Money, Dual Citizenship, and a Whole Lot of Drama
Martino was found carrying what police described as a “substantial” amount of undeclared foreign currency. They haven’t said exactly how much or what currency—but hinted it was more than usual for a tourist.
Her supporters say that’s just a red herring.
“She’s a performer. She travels. It’s normal,” a friend of Martino’s told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Meanwhile, Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed that the embassy in Cairo is “actively assisting” Martino and pushing for her release.
Here’s what’s raising eyebrows in Italy and beyond:
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Martino is a dual citizen. Born in Egypt, she later moved to Milan, became an Italian national, and built a solid fanbase on social media.
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Her Instagram had over 500,000 followers before it went dark late last month.
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She had performed in both Europe and the Middle East, often posting clips that mixed traditional belly dancing with modern pop and club beats.
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A Long History of Policing Women’s Bodies
Egypt has a long, complicated history with belly dancing—celebrated in cinema and culture, yet often condemned by conservatives.
It’s a profession once glamorized by movie legends like Samia Gamal and Fifi Abdou. But modern dancers now risk jail for the very thing their predecessors were adored for.
In the last five years alone, at least 12 women have been jailed in Egypt over their social media activity, most of them for violating “moral standards.” That includes:
| Name | Platform | Charge | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sama El-Masry | YouTube | Immorality, Prostitution | 3 years |
| Haneen Hossam | TikTok | Human trafficking (dropped later) | 10 years (overturned) |
| Mawada Eladhm | TikTok | Indecency | 2 years |
| Linda Martino | Moral corruption (pending) | — |
Martino’s case, critics argue, shows how state policing of women’s bodies has now extended into the digital space.
And it’s not about the law—it’s about control.
Social Media in Egypt: A Slippery, Watched Arena
In Egypt, posting on social media is no longer a casual act—it can land you in jail. The 2018 cybercrime law allows the government to block websites and monitor users accused of spreading “fake news” or “violating family values.”
But what counts as a “violation”? That’s the problem. The law is vague. And women are the ones mostly paying the price.
Martino’s Instagram clips, once harmless to many, are now criminal evidence. The videos, which showcased her performing in cropped tops and sequined skirts, reportedly formed the basis for the police complaint.
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That same week she was detained, Egyptian lawmakers were debating a bill that would expand surveillance over online influencers with over 10,000 followers. Coincidence?
Italian Embassy Steps In, As Case Gets Political
Martino’s arrest has put Italy in a tough spot diplomatically. The Italian embassy in Cairo has confirmed “direct contact” with Egyptian authorities and said it was offering consular protection to its citizen.
Italian media outlets, however, are demanding more transparency. “A woman is being punished for dancing—what century are we in?” blared La Repubblica in a scathing editorial.
Meanwhile, hashtags like #FreeLindaMartino and #DancingIsNotACrime have picked up on Italian Twitter and among diaspora Egyptians in Europe.
Italy has had a tense relationship with Egypt in recent years—particularly after the 2016 murder of PhD student Giulio Regeni in Cairo, which Rome has blamed on Egyptian security forces. Martino’s case, some worry, could reopen old wounds.
What Happens Now?
Martino remains in custody, awaiting a formal hearing. No trial date has been set. It’s unclear whether prosecutors will drop the charges or push ahead.
Her lawyer, speaking anonymously, said she’s being held in a women’s detention facility outside Cairo and that she’s “shocked and scared.”
Friends in Milan say she had plans to return home in early July, but never made it past passport control.
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If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison and fines under Egypt’s cybercrime and public morality laws. For now, her fate rests somewhere between diplomacy, censorship, and a deeply divided cultural debate.
