Archive for new constitution

Dozens protested outside the Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria after Friday prayers, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi Da’wa of marring the results of the constitutional referendum.

The protesters demanded the cancellation of the Constitution, which they claimed “divides Egypt politically and geographically.”

"The people want to bring down the Brotherhood," "Down with the supreme guide rule," and "Sell the revolution Oh Badei,” they chanted. Some raised banners that read, "The Brotherhood hijacked my revolution," "The revolution continues" and "We reject the Constitution that divides Egypt."

Sheikh Ahmed al-Mahalawy, the preacher at the Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque, did not deliver the sermon on Friday, following violent attacks on him by protesters who accused him of using the mosque as a platform for political aims.

A popular group in Alexandria formed against the “Brotherhoodization” of Egypt has filed several complaints with the Ministry of Endowments, demanding that Mahalawy be barred from delivering Friday sermons.

Last Friday witnessed violent clashes with bladed weapons and stones between opponents to the new Constitution and Islamists who staged a protest outside the mosque. The clashes left 68 wounded, and a number of cars were burned.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Essam al-Erian has been selected as the leader of the majority in the Shura Council, replacing Ali Fath al-Bab.

Erian, vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party and President Mohamed Morsy’s adviser, was selected by the FJP’s palriamentary body. Sources said that although Fath al-Bab was doing well, Erian’s parliamentary experience and his role in the drafting of the new Constitution make him more eligible to lead the majority.

The head of the council’s legislative committee should be a legal expert, such as Hussein Hassaan or Gamal Gibril, the sources said. The Freedom and Justice Party would not insist on one if its members heading up that committee, they added.

Under the new Constitution, which was passed by 64 percent in the national referendum, the Shura Council — the upper house of Parliament — will hold legislative powers until the House of Representatives — the lower chamber — is elected in the next two months.

The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties occupy the majority of seats on the council.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Egyptians voted for the Constitution because they believe in the nation’s Islamic identity and want the application of Sharia, said Jama’a al-Islamiya member Aboud al-Zomor.

Zomor was convicted of plotting late President Anwar al-Sadat’s assassination and spent almost 30 years in prison before being released in April 2011.

He told the German news agency DPA that the Constitution is “a source of stability, development and security, and confirms the Islamic identity of the state.”

“The percentage of those demanding the application of Sharia in Egypt is much higher than the 64 percent that supported the Constitution,” Zomor said. “Some rejected the Constitution because it does not enforce Sharia strictly enough.”

Zomor said that he hopes an article will be drafted to prevent the drafting of any laws that would contradict Sharia. However, he said he was not concerned that such laws would be passed because legislative powers are now in the hands of the Shura Council, “which has an Islamist majority that would not allow any violation of Sharia.”

Egypt’s Copts have no reason to fear that the new Constitution would infringe on their rights or marginalize them in any way. “The Coptic citizen has full rights of citizenship, just like a Muslim,” Zomor claimed.

Opponents of the Constitution are “hungry for power and refusing Islamist leadership,” Zomor claimed, wondering, “Why do liberals turn their backs on the democratic norms they called for?”

He accused the “secularists” of trying to dominate the political scene and “taking us back to the former regime, which they liked.”

Zomor demanded that the opposition get behind the will of the people and stop taking positions that confuse the political scene.

Edited translation from DPA

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Morsy announces Cabinet reshuffle

In a televised speech, President Mohamed Morsy spoke on Wednesday, saying he is planning for a Cabinet reshuffles of the government of Prime Minister Hesham Qandil, who took office in August.

Morsy said, in a televised speech on the occasion of the adoption of the country's new Constitution, "I asked Qandil and consulted with him to make appropriate ministerial reshuffles suitable for [this] stage to face all problems, large and small problems."

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Egypt’s High Judicial Elections Commission announced the final results of the referendum on the new constitution, with the official “yes” vote amounting to 63.8 percent.

Samir Abul Maati, head of the HJEC, said in a conference late Tuesday that out of 51,919,067 eligible voters, 17,058,317 cast their ballots, equaling a turnout of 32.9 percent.

A total of 10,693,911 voted in favor of the new constitution, while 661,101 or 36.2 percent said “no.” Invalid ballots totaled 303,395.

The draft constitution was put to a referendum over two stages, with 10 governorates voting on December 15 and the remaining 17 voting a week later.

The final results were close to preliminary tabulations, which showed an approval rate of 64 percent.

The commission says it has thoroughly reviewed all the complaints it received on violations, adding that the referendum was held under full judicial supervision at all polling stations since the electoral system prohibits non-judicial officials from overseeing the process.

The commission also allowed media personnel into polling stations by showing their press cards or other credentials, and observers were allowed to use the licenses issued them for the presidential election.

Abul Maati said that the late opening of some polling stations was made up for through the extension of voting hours, adding that results from the few polling stations that closed before the set time of 11 pm were invalidated.

On Monday, the Cairo Administrative Court said it would review around 50 lawsuits calling for the cancellation of the constitutional referendum results. The lawsuits allege that the voting process was plagued by violations including inadequate judicial oversight and overcrowded polling stations, which prevented thousands of voters from casting their ballots.

The suits further claim that holding the referendum over two days was also unlawful, as it is in violation of the March 2011 Constitutional Declaration and Law No. 46 of 2011 on exercising political rights, which stipulates that the referendum should be held in one round with results announced three days later.

The Islamist-backed constitution has widened the rift between political forces, with opponents arguing that the assembly which drafted is unrepresentative and that the document itself is riddled with vague wording while failing to safeguard rights and freedoms.

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Eight female activists on Tuesday cut some of their hair before reporters’ cameras in Tahrir Square to protest the divisive constitution draft.



The activists made the move while staging a silent vigil free of banners. “Nothing more can be said,” they stated. They announced their rejection of the new constitution and “all forms of  systematic violence and marginalization against women by state institutions.”



The activists also demanded the results of the referendum, scheduled for announcement later on Tuesday, be annulled and its drafting assembly be reformed.



Mona Abdel Rady, one of the activists, said they will continue protesting through different means to defend women's rights, especially after the enactment of the new constitution which “increases discrimination against women,” as she put it.



An estimated 64 percent of voters supported the constitutional draft in the referendum which ended Saturday.



Edited translation from DPA
 

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The Cairo Administrative Court at the State Council on Tuesday will begin reviewing over 50 lawsuits from across the country challenging the legitimacy of the vote on Egypt’s new constitution, which ended on Saturday.



Plaintiffs are demanding that the announcement of the final results, scheduled for this evening,  be postponed. They claim that voting was marred by several violations, including inadequate judicial supervision because of many judged boycotting the poll. Petitioners said this resulted in several polling stations being merged, causing overcrowding that prevented thousands of voters from casting their ballots.


Former MP Youssef al-Badry and Lawyers Syndicate member Sabry Etman had filed a lawsuit at the Kafr al-Sheikh Administrative Court against President Mohamed Morsy’s invitation to vote on the new charter. They said the process, conducted over two days, violated Article 60 of the March 2011 Constitutional Declaration, which stipulated a one-day poll.




Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm Website



 

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Constitution Party head Mohamed ElBaradei said that if his party is successful in the coming parliamentary elections, the top priority would be the cancellation of the new constitution.

ElBaradei told BBC on Monday that he believes the new constitution constrains basic values such as freedom of belief and expression and independence of the judiciary.

The Constitution Party is a member of the National Salvation Front along with the Wafd, Conference, Egyptian Social Democratic and Popular Current parties, and the National Association for Change.

In a press conference on Sunday, the front said it would run for parliamentary elections on one list.

Earlier on Monday, Hamdeen Sabbahi, founder of the Popular Current, expected the front to secure a majority in the elections.

In an interview with the Turkish Anadolu news agency, Sabbahi rejected the new constitution, saying, “The referendum was manipulated. However, we’ll deal with it as a fact. We’ll struggle to cancel it.”

He added that comparing the results of the March 2011 referendum with the recent on indicates a decrease in Islamist popularity, specifically that of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In March 2011, the Constitutional Declaration was passed with a 78 percent vote after Islamist campaigns in support of the document. Preliminary results indicate that the draft constitution was approved by 64 percent. Sabbahi anticipated that this shift would help the NSF secure a majority in Parliament.

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