Grand Mufti of Egypt says: Women can wear trousers but stretch pants are unacceptable

Egypt's top Islamic authority defended women's rights to wear trousers in public following a high profile court case in neighboring country Sudan where women were flogged for dressing in pants, the local press reported Wednesday. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in response to a question during a public lecture that trousers covering women's bodies are permitted, though they should be loose and not see through. He specified that "stretch" pants were in particular unacceptable. He is the top religious authority of Egypt and appointed by the government. Sudan caused a stir when it flogged women for wearing trousers. One woman, Lubna Hussein contested penalty and was let off with a fine for public indecency in a trial that garnered international attention.