Hand gesture gets Egyptian opposition figure jail term

Cairo – An up-and-coming challenger to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi may be barred from running against him after receiving a jail sentence on Monday for public indecency.

A Cairo court sentenced human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali to three months in prison for making what was deemed an obscene hand gesture on the steps of a courthouse after winning a case against the government.

Ali's political profile has soared since he won the case in January nullifying an unpopular government transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

He has not formally announced if he will oppose Sisi in the elections, but has indicated he intends to.