Egyptian model and Instagram influencer Salma al-Shimi was detained by the police, along with her photographer, for allegedly disrespecting "Egyptian civilization". Last week, Shimi had posed for a shoot at the 4,700-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser outside Cairo and wore an “inappropriate” ancient costume, according to local media. While the model was arrested soon after the shoot at the Saqqara necropolis, 20 miles south of Cairo, the police detained photographer Hossam Mohamed, later on Monday.
According to a local media Youm7, Shimi is out on bail but will face charges of “taking photos without authorisation in the Saqqara archaeological site,” Al Ahram reports. A few days back, Shimi's pictures at the archeological site went viral, Agence France-Presse reported. She has thousands of followers on Instagram.
The Guardian reports, “A photographer has been arrested after a private shoot with model-dancer Salma al-Shimi in the archaeological zone. His case had been referred to the courts.” The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri further said that disrespectful photos at the ancient sites are banned and "anyone who shows negligence when it comes to antiquities or our unique Egyptian civilization will be punished," Waziri said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Shimi had also posted a video from the shoot in an ancient Egyptian dress. Expressing disbelief over the photoshoot, netizens questioned, “Is there really a ban on taking photographs in archaeological zones, even pictures that are not indecent but completely normal?” one social media user wrote, according to the Guardian.
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Shimi, however, reportedly said that she was unaware of the rules and never thought that photography on archaeological sites without a permit was forbidden. In July this year, an Egyptian court sent five young women to prison for two years for posting “indecent videos” on TikTok.
Feature Image Credit: Salma al-Shimi/Facebook
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