Talk show host Entisar acquitted of immorality charges

Actress Entisar was acquitted of immorality charges by the Nasr City Criminal Court on Sunday. The same court also dismissed charges against Tarek Nour, the owner of the Al-Qahera wal Nas satellite channel that airs her talk show, “Nafsana” (Rancour).

Lawyer Hany Gad filed the charges against the two defendants after an October 6 episode of “Nafsana”  in which Entisar praised a young man who said he exercises patience and self-control by watching pornography. In the same episode, Entisar admitted that she herself watches erotica, while also claiming that 70 percent of Egyptian men watch porn.

Gad filed the charges against Entisar and Nour the next day. The trial began on December 3 and ended with the acquittal on Sunday.

The defendants were accused of violating Article 269 of the Penal Code, which stipulates “a sentence of imprisonment, not exceeding one month, for an individual who incites — with signals or statements — passersby on a public road or frequented place to commit debauchery.” Repeat offenders can be sentenced to a maximum of six months in prison, fined LE50 and be placed on parole.

After the charges were filed, Entisar attempted to explain her comments in a video broadcast on October 21. The TV host said she was not encouraging her viewers, or anyone else, to watch pornography, but simply expressing support for a youth who said he resorts to watching porn in order to avoid committing more serious sins.

Gad will appeal the acquittal, the state-owned newspaper Akhbar al-Youm reported Sunday.