The New York Times 03/06/12 David D. Kirkpatrick
“Egyptian Lawmaker Forced to Resign Over a Nose Job”
The first political scandal of Egypt’s fledgling electoral democracy erupted Monday after an Islamist lawmaker was expelled from his ultraconservative party, accused of fabricating a story that he was viciously beaten by masked gunmen.
Doctors said that the bandages on his face in fact covered up plastic surgery on his nose.
The lawmaker, Anwar el-Balkimy, had belonged to Al Nour, part of the ultraconservative Salafi movement — Egypt’s religious right — whose members typically condemn plastic surgery as sinful, along with most music and other popular entertainment.
Nader Bakar, a spokesman for Al Nour, said that in expelling Mr. Balkimy the party was establishing the principle of accountability, requiring public officials whose wrongdoing interferes with their duties to apologize and bear the responsibility — something he said was common around the world, but still new in Egypt.
“We forced him, or more pushed him, to resign from the Parliament, and he kindly agreed,” Mr. Bakar said in an interview. “He signed an official apology to the general public; this is the official position. He acknowledged that his story wasn’t true.”
Common Sense Review
No comments:
Post a Comment