Egyptian legislator resigns after lying about nose job

By Rizwan Khatik - Tue Mar 06, 6:47 am

A legislator from Egypt’s most conservative Islamist party resigned from parliament after he was caught lying to cover up a nose job, claiming the injuries to his heavily bandaged face were from a carjacking and beating.

Parliament member Anwar al-Balkimy represented the Al-Nour party, whose members known as Salafis follow a strict interpretation of Islam that forbids cosmetic surgery as meddling in God’s work.

The party said Monday that he had resigned and Al-Nour was forced to issue an embarrassing and apologetic statement.

“In light of the regretful incident involving Al-Nour party legislator Anwar al-Balkimy, the head of the party, Emad Abdel-Ghafour, went to the hospital with a team of party members to question the lawmaker,” it said. The party added that it found his claims of an attack were not true.

Al-Nour spokesman Nader Bakar was quoted on the group’s official Facebook page as saying al-Balkimy was expelled from the party.

“Based on what the hospital officials said, we decided to expel him from the party, and so he submitted his resignation,” Bakar said, adding that al-Balkimy apologized. “We are trying to bring forth a new set of social values in politics based on Islamic principles,” he added. “He may be suffering from an emotional disorder.”