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Egyptian singer JAILED for 'inciting debauchery' after suggestively eating banana in music video

Shyma Ahmed has been jailed for inciting debauchery (Picture: YouTube)
Shyma Ahmed has been jailed for inciting debauchery (Picture: YouTube)

An Egyptian pop singer has been jailed for two years after she ate a banana suggestively while wearing skimpy clothing in her music video.

Shaimaa Ahmed, who is commonly known by her stage name Shyma, was jailed for ‘inciting debauchery’ after the video showed her standing before a classroom of young men.

In the clip, a blackboard behind her is scrawled with the words ‘Class #69’, and she proceeds to eat an apple and a banana while pouring milk over the fruit.

She was accused of suggestively eating a banana (Picture: YouTube)
She was accused of suggestively eating a banana (Picture: YouTube)

The video, which was filmed for her song ‘I have issues’ prompted huge controversy in Egypt’s largely conservative society – and was widely discussed on TV before prosecutors ordered her arrest.

Now, an Egyptian court has jailed the singer for two years – but she can appeal the verdict to a higher court.

The video’s director was also fined and sentenced to two years in absence after creating the controversial clip.

The ruling follows a similar case from November, which saw a Lebanese singer interrogated by Egyptian authorities for wearing a pair of shorts on stage.

Haifa Wehbe, 41, claims she was ‘called for interrogation’ after the performance at the American University of Cairo.

Her manager was called by authorities to ‘warn’ him that the singer must pick outfits which ‘take into account the traditions and customs of Egyptian people’.