Women sentenced to 2 years in prison for “indecent” Tik Tok videos

Five young women have been sentenced to two years in prison by an Egyptian court for posting what prosecutors termed “indecent” dance videos on TikTok.

The prosecution in its case named two of the defendants as 20-year-old student Haneen Hossam and 22-year-old Mawada Eladhm. The other three are said to have helped run the social media accounts of Mawada & Haneen.

Apart from their sentencing, the women were also fined a total of 1,500,000 Egyptian pounds for “violating the values and principles of the Egyptian family,” “inciting debauchery and promoting human trafficking”, according to a statement from the public prosecutor in assigned to the case.

Haneen Hossam and Mawada Eladhm rose to fame through TikTok by sharing of footage of themselves applying makeup, posing in different cars, dancing in kitchens and making funny videos.

Like many others in some countries, their social media clout landed them in trouble with Egyptian authorities.

As at the time of publishing, their lawyers have commented that they will appeal the ruling.

Eladhm’s lawyer, Ahmed el-Bahkeri, confirmed the sentencing, saying the prosecution deemed Eladhm’s photos and videos “disgraceful and insulting.”