An Egyptian court has sentenced two male singers to prison on charges of public indecency in a music video, as part of the country's ongoing crackdown on racy online videos.
According to Gulf News, the Misdemeanour Court in the district of Monshaat Nasser in Cairo imposed a two-year prison sentence on singers Ahmad Nafae and Mahmoud Juma over their online music video "Zokko Zakka" (Give it a Push.)
While the court accused the defendants of making sexual innuendos in the song, the latter two denied that the lyrics were sexually explicit.
Released late in 2016, the video has garnered over 23 million views on YouTube.
The song revolves around a conversation between toktok drivers and its video captures several young men and girls dancing to trendy folksy music.
However, the singers were not referred to court until December 2017, after the song caused a stir on social media.
Nafae and Juma were accused of promoting debauchery and immorality with their lyrics, which seem to narrate sexual encounters between women and toktok drivers.
On Wednesday, the Misdemeanour Court sentenced the singers to two years in prison and allowed them to stay out of prison pending an appeal, with a 5,000 Egyptian pound ($282) bail each.
Not the first case of its kind
Several entertainers have faced prosecution in Egypt over performances deemed to be in violation of public morals.
According to Gulf News, experts say performers are resorting to such racy videos in a bid to become famous overnight.
In December 2017, singer Shimaa Ahmad, also known as Shyma, was sentenced to two years in prison over the racy music video to her song "I Have Issues."
Following a quick trial, the 25-year-old singer was found guilty of inciting debauchery and publishing an indecent film.
The video's director was also sentenced to two years in prison in absentia, BBC reported at the time.
