Belly dancer gets six months in prison for wearing 'offensive' Egyptian flag outfit

An Armenian dancer's red, white and black dress has been deemed too offensive

Safinaz performs in the colours of the Egyptian flag (Twitter)

A popular Armenian belly dancer has been sentenced to six months in prison by an Egyptian court for performing in a dress the same colour as its flag.

Egypt-based Safinaz was also handed a fine of around 15,000 Egyptian pounds (£1,300) for wearing a tight, red, white and black dress to dance in.

The 30-year-old dancer, whose real name is Sofinar Gourian, said that her outfit was “a message of love to Egypt and its people” and was not aware of the new law.

The complaint was filed when a businesswoman saw her perform in the town of Ain Sokhna, outside of Cairo, Ahram Online reported.

It has been illegal since July 2014 to “insult the national flag” in Egypt. This includes displaying or trading a damaged or unsuitably altered flag.

Breaking the law could mean a fine of up to £2,637 and a year in prison.

Safinaz’s defence lawyer said that as an Armenian, the dancer did not have a good enough understanding of the country’s law and had not intended to offend.

She has appeared in a number of Egyptian films and performed at high-profile weddings. She was arrested in March directly following the complaint but was released on bail.