CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court has sentenced a former ultraconservative lawmaker to 18 months in jail on charges of "violating public decency" and contempt of police.
Police officers say Ali Wanees, who is also a religious cleric, was in a parked vehicle along an agricultural road at night last month. The officers say they approached the car and saw a woman in a full face veil sitting on top of Wanees, who was touching and caressing her.
Wanees has denied the charges. He was tried in absentia and is allowed a retrial.
The woman with him has been under arrest for about a month. She was ordered to six months in jail Saturday.
The charges are especially embarrassing for Salafis, who advocate a strict segregation of unrelated men and women.
