Nose stretcher costly for Egypt MP

CAIRO— A lawmaker in Egypt’s most conservative Islamist party has 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.

Parliamentarian Anwar al-balkimy represented the Al-nour party. Its 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 alBalkimy had resigned and Al-nour had been forced to issue an embarrassing and apologetic statement.

Party spokesman Nader Bakar was quoted on the group’s official Facebook page as saying the party leader and other officials went to the hospital to follow up on al-balkimy’s story.

“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.

Local media have been flooded in recent days with pictures of al-balkimy’s face swathed in such heavy bandages that only his eyes, mouth and bearded chin could be seen.

According to Egyptian media reports, al-balkimy checked into a Cairo hospital on Feb. 28 for plastic surgery on his nose. The next day he checked into a second hospital, where doctors said he tried to claim he had been beaten and mugged.

He also told police that he had been attacked during an attempted carjacking on the outskirts of Cairo.

His allegations triggered an outcry against the government for failing to address the crime wave plaguing Egypt since last year’s uprising ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak.

The episode was a major embarrassment for ultra-conservative AlNour, fresh off its strong showing in parliamentary elections.

The state prosecutor is waiting for al-balkimy’s parliamentary immunity to be lifted before interrogating him. If found guilty of filing a false police report, he could face prison.