Egyptian actress Rania Youssef is facing possible jail time for wearing a revealing dress at the closing ceremony of this year’s Cairo International Film Festival, reported the New York Times.
The actress is accused of violating Egyptian morality by wearing a revealing outfit that could “incite debauchery.”
If convicted, Youssef could face a possible five-year jail term. Her trial is set for January 12.
The bizarre case is one of many unconventional prosecutions in Egypt under the authoritarian rule of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
In June, a Lebanese tourist was arrested for “insulting Egypt” on a Facebook Live video. She was sentenced to 8 years in jail over comments about sexual harassment and poor conditions in the conservative nation.
RELATED: Lebanese tourist arrested for ‘insulting Egypt’ on Facebook
Her sentence was cut short in September after she was freed and deported back to Lebanon.
In Youssef’s dilemma, the likeliness of prosecution is still not known. The morality-focused cases attempt to police clothing and behavior within Egyptian culture and society.
Most of these cases are unsuccessful.
Youssef has since apologized and insisted she did not mean any harm in wearing the controversial black dress.
“I didn’t expect this reaction, and if I had known, I wouldn’t have worn this dress,” the actress said in a statement.
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