Egyptian actress charged with obscenity for sheer dress

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian actress is facing trial next month and was charged with public obscenity after she attended the closing ceremony of a film festival in Cairo wearing a see-through embroidered gauze dress that revealed the entirety of her legs.

Image: Screengrab via Instagram/@raniayoussef_

Rania Youssef’s trial, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 12, follows a complaint to the chief prosecutor by a group of lawyers against the actress.

Youssef is being charged with public obscenity for a gown which showed the entirety of her legs. Image: Screengrab via Instagram/@raniayoussef_

Egypt is a mostly conservative country with a Muslim majority. The Arab country of 100 million people has retained vestiges of secularism despite decades of growing religious conservatism, but Youssef’s case serves as a reminder that Islamic fundamentalism still pervades society five years after an Islamist president was ousted by the military.

Youssef faces up to five years in prison if convicted. NVG

RELATED STORIES:

After teen’s thong gets cited in rape trial, women in Ireland protest using underwear

French Open to ban Serena’s ‘Black Panther’ catsuit