Egypt’s constitution headed for high court showdown with Islamists

A major battle is happening in Egypt right now between the liberals and the Islamists over the constitution. The panel set to craft the constitution is said to be loaded with Islamists and liberals in the country fear the coming Sharia if they are allowed to craft it. The high court will decide whether to disband the panel or not:

CBN NEWS – The fate of the Egyptian constitution is heading to the country’s Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, An Egyptian court asked Egypt’s highest tribunal to rule on whether to disband a panel tasked with writing a new constitution for the country after the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak last year.

Critics claim the body is dominated by Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt’s new president, Mohammed Morsi. Liberals fear that Islamic law will dominate.

Islamists and liberals have haggled over proposed articles relating to women rights, freedom of worship, presidential powers, immunity for the military from civilian oversight, and undercutting the powers of the Supreme Constitutional Court. …

The decision sets up a new showdown between the Supreme Constitutional Court, packed with secularist judges, and Egypt’s ruling and powerful Brotherhood.

The same court dissolved the Brotherhood-led parliament, ruled the election law unconstitutional, and turned down Morsi’s attempt to restore it upon his election in June.

“We are going to witness a new phase of confrontation between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Constitutional Court,” said Ziad Abdel Tawab, a legal expert with Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. “The process will linger, for sure.” …

It was not known when the top court would rule on the petition. However, the ruling could come after the people have voted on the constitution.

Honestly I think it’s just a matter of time before the Islamists get their way, even if they are blocked at this juncture by the high court.


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