months in prison for 'insulting the Egyptian flag' after she wore a
tight dress in its red, white and black color scheme.
The court in Agouza, west of Cairo, said Sofinar Gourian, popularly
known as 'Safinaz', was fined £15,000 after being found guilty in a
case raised by a private complainant.
She is expected to avoid jail time, however, after paying £10,000 bail
and launching an appeal against the six month prison sentence.
Insulting the flag was made illegal by decree under Egyptian President
Adly Mansour who ruled for a year after the army overthrew an elected
but divisive Islamist president in 2013.
The change in law made it a crime to raise, display or sell an
Egyptian flag if it is damaged in any way, or even if the colour has
faded.
The law also prohibits adding slogans, designs or pictures to the Egyptian flag.
Ms Gourian is understood to have worn a costume made from the material
taken from an Egyptian flag during a belly dancing performance in the
town of Ain Sokhna in 2013.
The belly dancer, who lives in Egypt, had argued that she did not
insult the flag intentionally and as a foreigner was less aware of
Egyptian laws.
The complaint against her was filed by a businesswoman and hotel owner
in Mohandeseen who found the performance insulting, according to Ahram
Online.
Although she has been convicted of the crime, her £10,000 bail allows
her to remain free until her appeal has been heard.
Ms Gourian has lived and worked in Egypt for the past two years, where
her act has proven to be an immediate success.
The Armenian native has already appeared in several Egyptian movies,
performed at society weddings and is married to an Egyptian national.
Ms Gourian has previously told reporters she hopes to spend the rest
of her life in the country.
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