An Egyptian economic appeals court upheld on Saturday a three-year jail term against TikTok influencer Manar Samy for "inciting immorality and debauchery.” The verdict comes a few months after an economic court sentenced Samy to three years in prison and an EGP 300,000 fine, as well as setting bail at EGP 20,000 to have the sentence suspended pending appeal. Samy still has the option of filing a second appeal in front of the same court. In July, Samy and another person were arrested with a weapon and drugs in their possession, according to authorities. The arrest warrant against Manar was issued after a lawyer filed a case against her where he described her lip-syncing and dancing videos as "indecent" and aiming to “attract attention and earn money.” Samy, who has around 200,000 followers on the social media app, used to post videos dancing and singing in a manner many in the conservative country describe as a “suggestive” or “inappropriate.” Video-sharing platforms like TikTok have been gaining negative attention in Egypt in recent years, with content creators being condemned for making videos deemed too daring or audacious. Several TikTok influencers have been tried over their content this year, as the country attempts to control content on the popular platform. In July, a Cairo economic court sentenced TikTok influencers Haneen Hossam and Mawada Eladham, who are well-known for their content on the video-sharing platform, and three others to two years in prison for “violating family values and principles.”
