The Cairo Economic Court has rejected a complaint filed by belly dancer Samia Ahmed Attia to overturn her six-month imprisonment, citing her defaming of journalist Reham Saeed as grounds to carry out the sentence.
Attia, better known by her stage name of Sama al-Masry, was referred to trial over charges of slandering Saeed back in August 2019 through a video clip sent to her friends on WhatsApp.
The case dates back to April 2020, when Public Prosecutor Hamada al-Sawy ordered that Masry be detained for four days pending investigations over lawsuits filled against her by Egyptian TV host Reham Saeed and her attorney.
Saeed’s attorney filed over three lawsuits against Masry, with the latest accusing her of libel and slander. The controversial dancer had previously criticized Saeed on her Instagram account and celebrated when Saeed’s show was suspended. Masry further ridiculed Saeed, saying she was only fit for a job as a maid at her house.
Masry is a belly dancer and actress who made her name doing commercial movies such as “Ala Wahda W nos” which addressed the exploitation of female media workers, causing controversy in 2011. She has starred and danced opposite singer Mahmoud al-Lithy.
Masry gained criticism for her Youtube videos where she criticized the Muslim Brotherhood. In her fourth video she appeared in a headscarf, causing further outrage.
She also produced a video where she made fun of former US President Barack Obama in 2013, for which she gained notoriety.
