Egyptian singer arrested for 'inciting debauchery' after eating a banana in music video

'I didn't imagine all this would happen and that I would be subjected to such a strong attack from everyone'

Local media called video 'a lesson in depravity to youths' (YouTube / screengrab)

A pop star has been arrested in Egypt on suspicion of inciting debauchery in a music video.

Shyma, who was shown dancing in her underwear and eating fruit in front of classroom of men and a blackboard with “Class #69” written on it, was detained after the video caused numerous complaints.

Local media criticised the video.

Egyptian newspaper Youm7 added: “Singer Shyma presents a lesson in depravity to youths.”

For Shyma’s supporters, the pop star’s arrest was a symbol of women’s oppression in a country that was voted the worst in the Arab world for women in 2013.

The 21-year-old has apologised for the video, adding she was unaware it would cause such a backlash.

“I apologise to all the people who saw the clip and were upset by it and took it in an inappropriate way,” she wrote on social media.

“I didn't imagine all this would happen and that I would be subjected to such a strong attack from everyone, as a young singer... who has dreamt from a young age of being a singer.”

Egypt is a socially conservative and deeply religious country where women are urged by politicians not to talk loudly or laugh in public to avoid harassment by men.

Women have suffered dire consequences under successive leaders, with increasing cases of female genital mutilation, honour killings, domestic violence and sexual harassment.