The news that 19-year-old Egyptian social media influencer and archaeology student Haneen Hossam has had her 10-year-sentence for ‘human trafficking’ reduced to three years is to be welcomed. But the fact that she’s in prison at all under such ludicrous charges is bad news for Egyptian women and all those who support civil liberties in a near-totalitarian state. In 2020, Haneen, along with fellow social media influencer and satirist Mawada Eladhm who is currently serving a six-year sentence, was arrested on the nonsensical charges of ‘inciting debauchery’ and ‘violating public morals’, but the…

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