CAIRO: Sherine Abdel Wahab, popularly known as Sherine, has been sentenced to six months in jail by an Egyptian court for insinuating that drinking from the Nile river can cause illness.
The video in which she made a joke went viral on social media. In the widely shared clip, recorded over a year ago, Sherine was requested by her fan to sing the song titled “Have you drunk from the Nile?”
She jokingly responded that it would give her “schistosomiasis.”
“Drink Evian instead,” she added.
The court convicted her of spreading fake news, but her case is currently in progress as she paid a hefty fine for bail. She can file an appeal against the court’s decision.
There was outrage on social media against her comments. Egyptian Musicians Syndicate banned her from performing because of her “unjustified mockery of our dear Egypt”.
“I don’t recall saying that, because of course I don’t mean it, and it doesn’t reflect my personal feelings towards my nation … I’m sorry,” she said later.
“My beloved Egypt and its children: I apologise from all my heart for any pain I may have caused you. It was a bad joke that I would never use if I go back in time.”
