An Egyptian mother of three was divorced by her husband and sacked from school where she was teaching for dancing. A viral video of her dancing triggered outrage in some conservative sections of Egyptian society while support for her also pouring in, according to media reports.
However, the woman is planning to sue who made the video public and thereby “ruining her family”. However, the actions of school and the husband had triggered fierce debate on women’s rights in Islam.
The 2-minute video of Aya Youssef, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, shows her wearing a headscarf, trousers and a long-sleeved top as she dances alongside colleagues, smiling as she enjoys a river cruise on the Nile.
The video was shared widely on social media since it was posted earlier this month. Some critics accuse her of breaching the Islamic values, while others stand firmly with her in solidarity. In recent years, Egypt has witnessed several cases in which women have been subjected to defamation campaigns on social media, stirring angry demands for those responsible to be held to account.
Youssef, in a recent interview with a private TV channel, said she had been “happy” on the trip and that her moves were “spontaneous”. Other colleagues were dancing alongside her on the boat in the sunshine, some waving their hands in the air. “All of us were dancing,” she said.
The school authorities also sacked the teacher for her “unbecoming behaviour”. However, following outrage, she was reinstated.
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