A curvy influencer will go on retrial in Egypt after an appeals court annulled her two-year prison sentence for “morality” offences.
A court had previously sentenced shapely Salma Elshimy to two years in prison and fined her EGP 100,000 (GBP 2,500).
This was after it had convicted her of undermining family values and principles, and of publishing inappropriate content on social media in exchange for financial gain.
The images, from 2020, show fashion model Elshimy posing in a body-hugging Pharaonic dress against the backdrop of the Saqqara pyramids.
They caused a stir among conservative Egyptians after they were shared on social media, leading to the influencer’s arrest by security forces.
Two inspectors from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and four security personnel who had been present during the photoshoot were also arrested.
Their arrests came after investigators determined that Elshimy had not obtained permission for the shoot.
Elshimy, 29, spent four days in custody ahead of being sentenced. After the sentence was pronounced, she appealed.
The Economic Misdemeanour Appeals Court of Alexandria then decided, on 18th June, to annul her sentence.
The court has referred the case to the Cairo Economic Court, where a retrial will be held in July.
According to many Egyptian activists, arrests of women under “morality” charges have skyrocketed under the regime of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
