Egypt hands 2-year prison sentence to blogger for “deviant content”

An Egyptian court in the city of Alexandria Tuesday sentenced famous model and blogger, Salma Elshimy to two years in prison over filming and broadcasting inappropriate videos via the Internet in exchange for sums of money obtained through increased views, Egypt Independent reports citing police.

Salma Elshimy’s accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube circulated video clips that offend public morality and modesty per police reports. Police also claim the clips are shared to everyone without discrimination. She was arrested on April 03 at Cairo International airport on her way back from UAE.

She was subsequently taken to the Police Station in Dekheila, Alexandria, her place of residence, where investigations with her were completed by the Financial and Commercial Affairs Prosecution, the media notes.

Salma’s arrest follows that of another influencer Mohamed Abdel Hamid, known as “Loosha” in Giza Governorate, in February. Loosha, before his arrest, was sentenced to ten years in prison in absentia in connection to a kidnapping case in which he was previously accused.

Loosha is also accused of presenting content that some have described as incitement to violence and crime through video clips on his Tik Tok account.