Egypt: Did an Islamist lawmaker really get a nose job?

CAIRO, Egypt – Cosmetic surgery normally isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of ultra-conservative Salafi Islamists. But in the bizarre world of Egyptian politics, yes, the two do in fact mix. 

Leaders of the Salafist Al-Nour party revealed this week that one of their elected parliament members, Anwar Al Balkimy, lied about being robbed and assaulted by a group of masked gunmen. Instead, Al Balkimy's face injuries were the result of a nose job he reportedly underwent at a local hospital, Al Nour says.

They've suspended him from the party, whose "moral capital" has been tarnished by the incident, Al Nour spokesman, Nadar Bakkar, told local media. They're also petitioning the speaker of parliament to have him removed from his position in the People's Assembly. 

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Cosmetic surgery is forbidden by fundamentalists with a strict interpretation of Islamic law. It was unclear if Al Bulkimy, who had said he was relieved of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($16,600) when the armed men attack, used the money to pay for the surgery.