Court: former Egypt lawmaker "guilty" of indecency

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.

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