UNDER THE INFLUENCE
AN Egyptian influencer has been arrested for "inciting debauchery" after encouraging youngsters to use Tiktock
Haneen Hossam was reportedly arrested after her online video sparked outrage in Egypt.
The local authorities, who detained her on Tuesday, have accused her of "inciting debauchery" and "violating public morals", according to reports.
In the footage posted on the app Likee, the online star offered women aged over 18 years the chance to work from home and earn around £2,025 to £2,430 for making live videos and talking to strangers.
She added: "You will be able to form friendships with people in a respectable way."
Hanin Hossam, a student at the Faculty of Archaeology, faces charges posting an inappropriate videos on social media
platform Tiktok, and challenging the public morality.
POLICE INVESTIGATE MORALITY LAW BREACH
Investigating authorities have not revealed why she was suspected of breaching the country's strict morality laws.
The influencer, who is also a second year student at Cairo University respected Faculty of Archaeology, may face expulsion over the video as well as criminal proceedings, according to local media.
reported the university’s president Mohamed Othman El-Khosht said he had received several messages that a student in the University was calling upon females to shoot "inappropriate" videos in return for money.
He reportedly stressed that the university will impose the maximum penalty for acting against the Egyptian community’s values and traditions.
There are famous actors that use TikTok. Does this mean they work in prostitution?
Hanin Hossam
Before her arrest, Hossam released a video defending her post and rejected claims she was calling for "debauchery".
The influencer added: "There are famous actors that use TikTok. Does this mean they work in prostitution?"
Egyptian feminist Ghadeer Ahmed was one of the few high-profile people to defend Hossam and claimed that she had been the target of numerous bullying campaigns by the authorities.
She said: "This video went viral and some TV hosts and YouTubers started to incite against her, saying she wants to hire young Egyptian women as 'digital sex workers,' which is illegal and goes against the so-called public moralities."
Ms Ahmed said the vlogger was not the first woman to get arrested in Egypt for "violating public moralities" and said the arrest of video clip stars in Egypt has become a common phenomenon.
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But a conservative minded social media user said: "This is the same as prostitution. Instead of engaging in intercourse, they are just showing their bodies."
Another said: "TikTok, Likee and apps like these should all be banned in Arab countries. I myself don't like them."
Her dad has said in press statements his daughter was innocent and has not incited debauchery and her videos were in line with what other women of her age publish online.
Several women in Egypt have been accused of "inciting debauchery", including actress Rania Youssef, after critics voiced anger at her choice of outfit for the Cairo Film Festival in 2018.
A number of singers and belly dancers have also had the charge levelled at them as the government has cracked down on all forms of free expression.
In 2018 Egypt’s parliament passed a law stipulating that social media accounts and blogs with more than 5,000 followers will be treated as media outlets and those commanding them can be prosecuted for publishing what it deemed as "false news".
The investigation continues.
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