An Armenian belly dancer in Egypt accused of "insulting the Egyptian flag" by wearing a tight red, white, and black dress was sentenced Monday to six months in prison.
The court in Agouza, Egypt, west of Cairo, said Sofinar Gourian, known popularly as "Safinaz," was fined 15,000 pounds (almost $2,000) and paid another 10,000 pounds bail pending appeal. The case had been initiated by a private complaint.
Insulting the flag was made illegal by decree under Egyptian President Adly Mansour who ruled for a year after the army overthrew an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013.
Gourian, who lives in Egypt, had argued that she did not insult the flag intentionally and as a foreigner was less aware of Egyptian laws.