In his first public response following a recent judicial development, Egyptian superstar Mohamed Ramadan took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to address the two-year prison sentence handed down against him.
Reassuring his massive following, the artist confirmed that the sentence is suspended, while also sharing a heartfelt message of gratitude and resilience.
Undeterred by the legal hurdles, Ramadan seized the moment to pivot toward his global ambitions, announcing a highly anticipated concert at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden on January 17.
The legal verdict: Appeal dismissed
Earlier on Wednesday, the Dokki Misdemeanor Court of Appeals in Giza officially dismissed the appeal filed by the actor.
The court moved to uphold a prior conviction sentencing him to two years in prison. The ruling stems from a case involving the unauthorized release of an artistic work, specifically the publication of a song without the required regulatory clearance from the Ministry of Culture.
The case originated with a lower court ruling in Dokki, following a formal complaint filed by a lawyer.
The suit alleged that Ramadan’s YouTube release of the track “Number One Ya Ansas” bypassed mandatory licensing procedures.
Allegations of incitement
Beyond the administrative violation of failing to secure permits, the complaint took aim at the song’s lyrical content.
During the investigation, the plaintiff argued that the track contained language that incited violence and contravened prevailing societal values.
The prosecution’s findings highlighted that the release violated laws protecting intellectual property and the regulation of artistic works, ultimately leading to the court’s decision to uphold the penalty.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
