Egyptian-Italian Belly Dancer Arrested For Posting 'Seductive' Content On Instagram

Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 14:41 IST

Egyptian-Italian belly dancer Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, aka Linda Martino, was detained in Egypt for allegedly violating public morality via social media posts.

Investigators claim her videos featured intentionally exposed body parts and "indecent clothing" that went against societal norms. (Image: Instagram/lindamartino_)

An Egyptian-Italian belly dancer was detained in Egypt for allegedly violating public morality through her social media posts. Sohila Tarek Hassan Haggag, also known as Linda Martino on Instagram, was arrested on June 22 at Cairo International Airport after she was accused her of using “seductive techniques" in her dance videos.

Haggag, who holds dual citizenship and has over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, frequently posts dance clips in revealing outfits, referring to herself as “More than you can handle." Investigators claim her videos featured intentionally exposed body parts and “indecent clothing" that went against societal norms.

Born in Egypt, the dancer has been formally charged in Cairo with “inciting vice" through sexually suggestive performances and provocative content, The New York Post reported.

Authorities also reported that she was carrying a “substantial" amount of cash at the time of her arrest. The Italian Embassy in Cairo has since requested her release and consular access.

After ending a relationship with her Italian partner, Haggag had returned to Egypt a few years ago to pursue a successful dance career. She is expected to remain in custody for at least two more weeks as investigations continue.

Her arrest is part of a wider government crackdown under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, targeting online content deemed morally inappropriate. In recent years, Egypt has tightened its regulations on social media and digital expression, with at least five other belly dancers arrested under similar charges.

In one high-profile case in 2020, dancer Sama el-Masry was sentenced to three years in prison and slapped 300,000 Egyptian pounds for allegedly posting sexually provocative content, according to The Guardian. However, El-Masry refuted the allegations, claiming her private content had been leaked without her consent.

Human rights groups have condemned Egypt’s use of vaguely defined cybercrime laws, passed in 2018, which grant authorities broad powers to penalise online behaviour. Under these laws, individuals operating social media accounts that breach public morality could face at least two years in jail and fines up to 300,000 Egyptian pounds.

Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...Read More

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...

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Location :

Cairo, Egypt

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News world Egyptian-Italian Belly Dancer Arrested For Posting 'Seductive' Content On Instagram