DUBAI: An Egyptian social media star has been arrested on suspicion of “violating family values” and “establishing, managing and using [websites and social media accounts] with the aim of committing those crimes,” Egypt’s Ministry of Interior announced on Friday evening.
Mawada El-Adhm, 22, was arrested on Thursday and will remain in jail for a few days pending investigations, reports Youm7.
According to a statement, Egypt’s General Department for the Protection of Moral Values of the Ministry of Interior managed to arrest the social media star after she had fled her home in New Cairo following an arrest warrant being issued by prosecutors. Police tracked El-Adhm’s car, internet usage and mobile phone to October 6 City where she was arrested.
Authorities have not clarified whether El-Adhm was arrested in relation to any particular video or incident.
It’s not the first time El-Adhm experienced a run-in with the law. She was detained and later released on bail in March after posting a video on social media that showed her violating the COVID-19 nationwide curfew.
The 22-year-old is the second Egyptian woman to be arrested for posting videos deemed in violation of societal principles and values in recent months.
Haneen Hossam, a 20-year-old archaeology student at Cairo University was accused of human trafficking and arrested for “inciting debauchery, immorality and violating public morals” after she posted a clip on short-video sharing platform Likee stating that young women and girls can earn up to $3000 by “making live videos and talking to strangers.”
