Linda Martino Arrest | Who is This Italian Belly Dancer? Egyptian-born and Italian national Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, a belly dancer, known by her Instagram handle Linda Martino, was detained at Cairo International Airport on June 22 for allegedly violating societal norms through her online dance videos. Authorities have charged her with inciting vice by using “seductive techniques and provocative dances,” according to a report by The New York Post.
Haggag, who has amassed over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, is seen performing belly dances in revealing attire, frequently describing herself as “More than you can handle.” Egyptian prosecutors claim that she intentionally exposed sensitive body parts while wearing what they called “indecent clothing.”
Detention Draws Diplomatic Attention and Highlights Broader Crackdown
Officials stated that at the time of her arrest, Haggag was carrying a “substantial” amount of cash. The Italian Embassy in Cairo has requested her release and access to consular services. Despite her dual citizenship, Haggag had recently returned to Egypt after ending a relationship with an Italian partner and establishing a career in her birth country.
She is expected to remain in custody for at least two more weeks.
Egypt has recently intensified its enforcement of morality laws under the administration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Reports indicate that at least five other belly dancers have been arrested in recent years under similar charges.
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In 2020, dancer Sama el-Masry was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 300,000 Egyptian pounds after being convicted for sharing sexually provocative content online.
Egypt’s cybercrime laws, enacted in 2018, permit jail terms of no less than two years and fines up to 300,000 pounds for those found guilty of managing internet accounts that violate the law. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the vague definitions in these laws and their potential for misuse.
