Luxor4u

It has been pointed out a number of times that there is a crime of 'Insulting the Egyptian Flag'. This news clip just came my way, and it shows that it is taken seriously, even if this belly dancer did not take it seriously after the first time she was summoned and charged for the offence.


Belly dancer Sofinar arrested over 'insulting Egyptian flag'

Also known as Safinaz, the well-known Armenian dancer was summoned for the second time on charges of insulting the Egyptian flag

Read more: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/124277.aspx

This is a popular fashion among dancers in Cairo - fashion costs.

Well, at least here in Luxor, people are more discrete... )

BENNU wrote:This is a popular fashion among dancers in Cairo - fashion costs.

Well, at least here in Luxor, people are more discrete... )

Last time I pointed this out, they just intentionally flaunted the law more, which is really stupid. Maybe they got away with it for now, but all it probably would take for them to get arrested would be if someone actually bothered to take the time to file a complaint with the police station. Add into it a call to the press to cover the story and it would have to be taken seriously. I'm sure they must have enemies, but the fact that it hasn't happened so far may just be due to their enemies not even considering them worthy of spending time on.

I'd say the difference is that people are probably actually LOOKING at the belly dancer whilst the dynamic duo are just a walking talking anomaly that you get used to and never really pay attention to anymore...........just saying

Glyphdoctor wrote:Last time I pointed this out, they just intentionally flaunted the law more, which is really stupid. Maybe they got away with it for now, but all it probably would take for them to get arrested would be if someone actually bothered to take the time to file a complaint with the police station. Add into it a call to the press to cover the story and it would have to be taken seriously. I'm sure they must have enemies, but the fact that it hasn't happened so far may just be due to their enemies not even considering them worthy of spending time on.

What we need here is a practiced grasser.

I had better watch out I have some Union Jack hankies Just in case!

Well, the case is going to trial. She could get one year in prison, and presumably be deported afterward:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... ian-f.aspx

To be honest the national flag of any Country is sacred to its Countrymen and women, so I can understand why people get offended by these actions

Luxor Pharoahs wrote:To be honest the national flag of any Country is sacred to its Countrymen and women, so I can understand why people get offended by these actions

Did you not once say that you had a pair of Union Jack boxers?

Dusak wrote:

Luxor Pharoahs wrote:To be honest the national flag of any Country is sacred to its Countrymen and women, so I can understand why people get offended by these actions

Did you not once say that you had a pair of Union Jack boxers?

As long as it is attached to a pole...

BENNU wrote:

Dusak wrote:

Luxor Pharoahs wrote:To be honest the national flag of any Country is sacred to its Countrymen and women, so I can understand why people get offended by these actions

Did you not once say that you had a pair of Union Jack boxers?

As long as it is attached to a pole...

Everyone has the right to be offended but that should not extend to imprisonment in any civilised society in my view.

I cant say I like it when groups of Muslim extremists burn Union Jacks and poppies on the streets of our Capitol either, there is an irony in as much as it appears the person in this case loves Egypt and the last thing that was intended was offence, unlike the extremists who fully intend to provoke and deeply offend.

I would say the way we handle it says a lot about us as people.

In 2011, you saw the flag everywhere on everything as a symbol of freedom. Foreign stars in Cairo would wear the flag as a gesture to the beloved country, Egyptian artists would wear the flag to express patriotism just like you heard and saw patriotic pop songs and music videos all the time.



I believe that everyone thought they were doing something good in celebrating the country and encourage faith in the future of Egypt, but since then, a law has been passed, and despite any good intensions, Safinaz must have known that what she did was against the law, as she has been arrested earlier for the same reason.

There is no law against wearing the flag per se. But putting writing on top of the flag, as some Luxor ladies have done, is a crime, whether you wear it or not.

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/146993 ... -in-prison

Armenian belly dancer sentenced to 6 months in prison

By THE CAIRO POST
CAIRO: Firebrand Armenian belly dancer Safinaz was sentenced to 6 months in prison and a 10,000 EGP ($1,310) fine on charges of insulting the Egyptian flag Monday, Youm7 reported.

Shahinaz al Nagar, a proprietor of a hotel in the Mohandessin district of Giza, filed a lawsuit after the dancer appeared in red, white and black costume resembling the Egyptian flag in June 2014.

In a news conference about the case, Safinaz said that it was a “love letter” to Egypt and its people, and there is no intention to insult.

According to a presidential decree issued in May 2014, insulting the Egyptian flag is punishable by law by up to a year in prison and 30,000 EGP ($3,930.)

Although Egypt allows public belly dancing, the decency police are authorized to regulate conditions that should be followed by the dancers, such as the style of their costumes.

The only belly dancers that I have seen are in the likes of the 'shady' establishments such as the Genesis bar. I have felt insulted just seeing how they presented themselves, their actions towards the likes of myself and their tiered belly design. No Egyptian flag on show, but what was should of been an arrestable offense.

BENNU wrote:http://www.thecairopost.com/news/146993 ... -in-prison

Armenian belly dancer sentenced to 6 months in prison

By THE CAIRO POST
CAIRO: Firebrand Armenian belly dancer Safinaz was sentenced to 6 months in prison and a 10,000 EGP ($1,310) fine on charges of insulting the Egyptian flag Monday, Youm7 reported.

Shahinaz al Nagar, a proprietor of a hotel in the Mohandessin district of Giza, filed a lawsuit after the dancer appeared in red, white and black costume resembling the Egyptian flag in June 2014.

In a news conference about the case, Safinaz said that it was a “love letter” to Egypt and its people, and there is no intention to insult.

According to a presidential decree issued in May 2014, insulting the Egyptian flag is punishable by law by up to a year in prison and 30,000 EGP ($3,930.)

Although Egypt allows public belly dancing, the decency police are authorized to regulate conditions that should be followed by the dancers, such as the style of their costumes.

Dear God..."decency police"...... .Has it come to this now? Is Egypt turning into KSA or Iran? Or is this poetic licence on the part of The Cairo Post?

That this sort of thing attracts so much attention...and a draconian punishment....says a lot about a society.

newcastle wrote:
Dear God..."decency police"...... .Has it come to this now? Is Egypt turning into KSA or Iran?

Nothing new - they have been around for ages.

Glyphdoctor wrote:There is no law against wearing the flag per se. But putting writing on top of the flag, as some Luxor ladies have done, is a crime, whether you wear it or not.

That's a crime in itself using the tag, ladies….

BENNU wrote:

newcastle wrote:
Dear God..."decency police"...... .Has it come to this now? Is Egypt turning into KSA or Iran?

Nothing new - they have been around for ages.

\

Are we talking about a special unit (as in KSA & Iran) whose purpose is the supervision of public morals.....or the usual busy-bodying attitude of some officers to what they consider to be inappropriate behaviour?

I've witnessed the latter....young Egyptian males in the company of foreign women being "hassled" by the tourism police.....but didn't realise there was a designated "decency police" force.