Egypt jails lawyer for urging rape of indecently dressed women

CAIRO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court sentenced a well-known lawyer on Saturday to three years in jail over his recent remarks encouraging rape of women wearing skintight outfits and ripped off jeans, official MENA news agency reported.

Lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh, who recently made the controversial remarks on a TV show, was convicted of encouraging rape and sexual harassment and was handed a three-year jail term in absentia, as he did not attend the hearing.

The prosecution said Wahsh's remarks would promote lawlessness, undermine social peace and harm the common interest in the most populous Arab country.

He was also fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (over 1,000 U.S. dollars) over the same charges. The sentence is still appealable.

Women in Egypt have been suffering sexual harassment for long years, especially in overcrowded places and during feasts and public gatherings.

A recent campaign named "Me Too!" launched by feminists encouraged sexually abused women to narrate their experiences to shed light on the thorny topic that has been looked at as a taboo in the male-domiant Arab country. Enditem