Belly dancer’s arrest in Egypt raises women’s rights concerns

An Italian-Egyptian belly dancer has been sentenced to a year of hard labour in Egypt, in a case highlighting the country’s escalating morality crackdown and ongoing restrictions on women’s rights, The New Arab reported on July 9th via The Times.

Linda Martino, who holds Italian citizenship through marriage and boasts over two million Instagram followers, was arrested at Cairo airport. Egyptian authorities accused her of using “seduction techniques and provocative dancing to incite vice” and claimed she wore “indecent clothing” in violation of public values.

During her court appearance, Martino defended her performances, insisting they fall within artistic boundaries. “Belly dancing is an art, it cannot be a crime. I am a dancer, and the videos on which the accusations are based are normal; they show a dance performance that does not go against or violate public morality,” she declared. She also appealed for support from the Italian consulate.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported that Italy’s consul in Cairo has officially sought permission to visit Martino in detention. The case reflects broader moves by Egyptian authorities to police public morality, with several performers targeted in recent years.

Russian dancer Ekaterina Andreeva previously received a similar one-year sentence for comparable allegations. Meanwhile, Egyptian dancer Amie Sultan has been campaigning for belly dancing to be recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, as the ancient art form faces increasing legal and social restrictions.

The case has drawn political criticism in Italy. Opposition MP Elisabetta Piccolotti condemned Martino’s arrest as “the latest action against the rights of women and human rights by Sisi’s government.” She referenced the 2016 murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in Egypt, warning of potential risks to Italians under Egyptian custody.

The Maghreb region remains among the lowest in the world in terms of gender equality, with Morocco and Algeria landing spots on the bottom rung for the fifth year in a row.