Talk show host Entisar stands trial for promoting pornography

The trial of actress and television anchor Entisar for "promoting pornography," which has raised questions regarding freedom of expression and the protection of public morality, commenced on Sunday at Nasr City Criminal Court.

Entisar and the owner of the channel that hosts her talk show, "Nafsana," both face charges of publicly corrupting morals.

The case was adjourned on Sunday to December 20.

The case was originally filed on October 7 by a conservative lawyer, accusing Entisar of “promoting immorality and depravity” during her show the previous day on Al-Qahera wal Nas satellite channel, owned by businessman Tarek Nour.

During the show, Entisar praised a young man who said watching pornography is an act of self-control. She also joked around with her co-host, who said she doesn’t watch pornography, while Entisar said she does.

Following the announcement of her referral to trial on criminal charges, Entisar clarified her stance in a subsequent episode on "Nafsana," which was broadcast on October 21. She emphasized that she had only “quoted a youth’s comic comments,” but didn’t actively encourage anyone to watch pornography.

Entisar’s lawyer represented her as the trial commenced on Sunday, as she wasn’t present herself in court, according to various local media sources.

The lawyer who filed the lawsuit against Entisar and Nour, reportedly presented the Nasr City Criminal Court with a dossier of documents and a recording of the "Nafsana" episode on October 6 in an attempt to prove she had “promoted immorality and sinful behavior.”

The defense lawyer argued that the case is a publicity stunt, according to the privately owned Youm7 news portal, who added that the lawyer who filed it has initiated a number of other cases with the aim of “attracting attention and personal fame.”

The lawyer in question, named in different publications as Mohamed Nemr or Hany Gad, previously filed cases against belly dancers Soha Mohamed (known as Shakira) and Dalia Kamal Youssef (known as Bardis), resulting in Agouza Criminal Court sentencing both to six months in prison in September. The dancers filed appeals against the verdict, and their sentences were reduced to three months in October.

The case was in relation to video clips featuring the two dancers, which were aired on local satellite channels, even though there was no nudity in them.

Article 278 of Egypt’s Penal Code includes a provision relating to "indecent assault and the corruption of morals," stipulating a maximum sentence of a year and a fine of LE300 or less.