Egypt Votes For The Morsi Constitution.

[sandyRoe]

In struggling to shake off the old tyranny are they in danger of wriggling into a new Islamic one?
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/12/morsis-constitution-actually-passed-referendum/60031/

[Duncer]

Interesting times. The army might not approve of the vote though sandy.

[emmie]

sandy why is that such a surprise, look what is happening across much of the world, surprised that it's taken this long for some to wake up to the fact that democracy in the form we have isn't going to happen. I pity the young, those who have lost their lives in a fight against tyranny, get rid of one despot take on another. He may have been democratically elected, but many of the people will not want this i am sure.

[naomi24]

Poor Egypt. :o/

[youngmafbog]

We are heading for a big war in the Middle east. It has been brewing for years, suspect we are now teetering on the edge.

Most likely to be a religious based one.

[jake-the-peg]

Can you explain to me exactly what's in this "contraversial constitution" that everybody's so upset about.

Everybody keeps using this language but I'm not sure precisely what they don't like and I'm not sure that they do either.

Egypt is an Islamic country, it should hardly be a surprise that they have an Islamic constitution.

I'm sure nobody would object to a Christian country having a Christian constitution

So if that's not an issue it boils down to people objecting that Egypt is muslim doesn't it?

[ichkeria]

They've just had a referendum have they not? Isn't that actually more democratic than the UK. I'm sure UKIP supporters would think so anyway :-)

[naomi24]

//if that's not an issue it boils down to people objecting that Egypt is muslim doesn't it? //

No, it doesn't. It boils down to one of the less restrictive Muslim nations becoming more restrictive.

[jake-the-peg]

More restrictive in what way?

What is in this constitution that you are objecting to?

[youngmafbog]

Is it people on here objecting (in which case who cares)? I think it is more a large proportion of the Egyptian public that are not happy that is the problem

Why, well if you loose you usually are unhappy, but, and this is more worrying, they see another potential dictatorship, this time Islamic led. There are some people in Egypt who dont want to live in the 15 century, but if the majority do then that is the way it has to be.

[ichkeria]

There are concerns about the fact that women's rights aren't explicitly guaranteed, and people have been spooked a bit by the President's hastily cobbled together "emergency" interim powers, most if not all of which have been revoked.
But "15th century"? Where is the justification for such a remark??

[youngmafbog]

Fundamentalist Islamic beliefs are locked in Cira 15C.

[ichkeria]

Maybe they are, but we're talking about a constitution for 21st century Egypt. So Ill just repeat: what aspects of the new Egyptian constitution suggest reverting to the "15th century". Feel free to make reference to said constitution in your reply :-)

[ZedBloke]

jake, do you not think that having almost total power, ie a dictator, makes this controversial? I'd imagine you would rightly be objecting if any western leader granted themselves such sweeping powers.

[naomi24]

Jake, there are several bits I find rather worrying. Here are a few.

//…Human Rights Watch noted that it provides for basic protections against arbitrary detention and torture and for some economic rights but fails to end military trials of civilians or to protect freedom of expression and religion.

…says that the legal code stems from “the principles of Islamic law,” wording that is broad enough to allow for individual rights and freedoms. But in an attempted compromise between the ultraconservatives and their liberal opponents, the proposed constitution added a new article defining those principles in accordance with established schools of Sunni Muslim thought.

…The constitution calls for freedom from discrimination, but does not specify whether women or religious minorities are protected. A provision on women’s equality was left out to avoid a dispute after ultraconservatives insisted that women’s equality should be qualified by compliance with religious laws.

…other checks on presidential power remain ill-defined.

…Believers in any of the three Abrahamic religions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism — are guaranteed the freedom of worship, but only those three.

…Human Rights Watch said. Article 10 says: “The state shall provide free motherhood and childhood services and shall balance between a woman’s obligations toward the family and public work. //

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Draft_Constitution_of_Egypt

[emmie]

it's a retrograde step, many of the people don't want a hard line Islamist government, who are not overly protective of women's rights, and those not of the faith. Christians who are in the minority could well be persecuted and if Morsi is such a nice peace loving man, loved by the people, why has he had a massive wall built, guarded by the military to stop those who don't want him or his policies. I too pity Egypt, war soon i reckon.

[tonyav]

Yes em, and it's not very far away either.

[Duncer]

Personally I wouldn't want a constitution based along ANY religious lines, although it's not a matter for me, it's a matter for the Egyptians, but I think jake is putting words in people's mouths' with his response. Where exactly did anyone object to Egypt being Muslim?

[naomi24]

//Where exactly did anyone object to Egypt being Muslim? //

They didn't. It's a figment of Jake's imagination.