Wageeh El-Shimy (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Wageeh El-Shimy, Egypt's first-ever blind parliamentarian, has vowed to defend the rights of the handicapped through the People’s Assembly.
El-Shimy, of the Salafist Nour Party, is aiming to be selected as a member of the commission that will draft the country's new constitution. Should he succeed, El-Shimy intends to use his position on the commission to defend the rights of people with disabilities.
El-Shimy first came to public attention when a picture of him sat in the first session of the People's Assembly appeared to show him sleeping, prompting many sarcastic comments on social media sites.
It was only after "We Are All Khaled Said" Facbeook page pointed out that El-Shimy is in fact blind that the catcalls ended.
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