Recently circulated news about a prison sentence issued against Johara, a Russian belly dancer based in Egypt, actually comes from an old court ruling, according to Johara’s business manager Bassam Abdel Moneim.
Abdel Moneim told Akhbar al-Yom that the news angered and frightened Johara, though she not canceled any of her planned shows.
On Wednesday, news outlets circulated claims that the Giza Misdemeanors Court sentenced Johara, real name Eicatrina Andreeva, to one year in prison for inciting debauchery.
Egyptian police previously arrested Johara in February, interrogating her for inciting debauchery, dancing semi-naked, as well as working as a dancer without obtaining a permit from the Manpower Ministry.
The police report said that Andreeva was dancing in a nightclub in a Nile boat in Giza without wearing shorts, required under the dance suit in accordance to the law.
She was referred to the Giza Prosecution Office, which released her on a bail of LE5,000 pending investigations.
Egyptian authorities retreated from their 2018 decision to deport Johara, who they considered a harm to public security due to her “provocative” dancing.
