The Azbakiya Misdemeanor Court sentenced on Saturday a well-known Egyptian lawyer, Nabih Al-Wahsh, to three years in prison, with bail set at EGP 10,000 and fining him EGP 20,000, over charges of inciting men to rape and sexually harass women, according to state-run newspaper Al-Ahram.
The lawyer, who is also charged with spreading false information and harming the public interest, did not attend the session
Journalists were banned from covering the session, according to a source at the court, quoted in state media.
Last week, the General Prosecutor referred the lawyer to urgent trial.
In October, Al-Wahsh said, during a TV show, that women who wear “indecent” clothes, such as ripped jeans, should not be respected and are inviting men to sexually harass them. “Raping them would be a national duty,” he said.
The state-funded National Council for Women Rights filed a complaint to the prosecution, saying such statements are in violation of the constitution, which guarantees the protection of women from all forms of violence.
Despite being publicly condemned, Al-Wahsh insisted on defending his comments in further press statements, saying he would not retract his remarks, even if his own daughter was concerned.
