A viral video of young women dancing on Cairo’s Metro has resulted in their arrest on public indecency charges, sparking intense controversy in Egypt over artistic freedom versus conservative values. The clip—set to a remix of Egyptian pop music—depicts the group performing choreographed steps in hijabs and everyday clothing before other passengers.
Why This Case Matters
Legal Risk: Possible 3-year prison sentence under Egypt’s ambiguous “morality laws”.
Social Media Backlash: #FreeTheMetroGirls trending as liberals and traditionalists fight.
International Outrage: UN Women denounces arrests in bid to promote tourism for “modern Egypt”.
The Arrests
3 women arrested following video reaches 10M+ views.
Phones seized to trace other participants.
Prosecutor accuses of “public morals violation” and “disrupting order”.
Public Reaction
• Supporters: “It’s harmless fun, not a crime!” – Cairo art student.
• Critics: “The Metro is for travelling, not TikTok” – Conservative MP.
• Celeb Backlash: Superstar Mohamed Ramadan under fire for endorsing the video.
Legal Context
2021: Comparable arrests due to “boat party dancing” videos.
2023: New cybercrime law expanded “indecency” to digital acts.
Paradox: Govt promotes dance tourism (e.g., El Gouna Festival).
What’s Next?
1. Court Date: Set for May 15 (activists planning protests).
2. Diplomatic Fallout: EU gender rights delegates issue concern.
3. Backlash Effect: More “underground” dance videos are emerging.
