Egyptian Pop Singer Gets 2 Years In Prison For ‘Debauched’ Music Video

The singer says that director Mohamed Gamal included the risqué scenes of her dancing in her underwear without her consent

Egyptian Pop Singer gets 2 years in prison for 'debauched' music video

by Ebere Nweze |
Published on

Egyptian judges have sentenced Egyptian pop singer Shaimaa Ahmed - otherwise known by her stage name 'Shyma' - to two years in prison after she starred in a music video where she suggestively ate a banana and pranced around in her underwear.

The former Arab Idol contestant, who is just 21, was also ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (£420) for supposedly 'inciting debauchery'. She appeared in court wearing a niqab over her face.

Judges also sentenced director Mohamed Gamal to two years in prison, although he reportedly did not attend the trial.

Egyptian singer suggestively eats banana
©Kishor Badu

More than one million people viewed the video for 'I Have Issues' within the first few days, but the video was as unpopular with conservative Egyptians as it was popular with online viewers. It has since been taken down, but clips still exist on YouTube of the singer suggestively eating a banana and apple in front of a classroom of men as well as dancing in her underwear. Local newspaper Youm 7 published an article claiming that 'Singer Shyma presents a lesson in depravity to youths.'

Egyptian music video
©Amirouche Mehidi

Though both Shyma and her director Mohamed Gamal are entitled to appeal their sentences, the trial speaks volumes about Egypt's increasing conservatism after the revolution and resident Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's controversial morality laws. Many have raised concerns about how Shyma will fare in an Egyptian women's prison, which can often be scenes of overcrowding and abuse.

This is not the first instance of women going to prison for 'debauchery'. In 2015 two Egyptian belly dancers were sentenced to six months in prison each after appearing in 'ranchy' music videos, despite belly dancing being a long-running cultural tradition in the country.

Follow Ebere Nweze on Twitter @NwezeEbere

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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.

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