Egypt panel agrees to keep Islamic principles in charter

CAIRO, Nov 29, 2012 (AFP)

Egypt’s constituent assembly voted on Thursday to keep a vaguely worded Mubarak-era article in the new charter that the principles sharia (Islamic law) are the main source of legislation.

The panel is voting on the constitution article by article, and unanimously approved keeping the formulation from the past constitution, which was suspended after a popular uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak in early 2011.

The clause states that “Islam is the state religion, and the Arabic language is its official language. The principles of Islamic sharia are the main source of legislation.”

A still unagreed clause, Article 219, seeks to explain the clause on Islamic law in terms of Sunni Muslim jurisprudence.

The assembly also agreed a clause stating that the principles of Christian and Jewish legal traditions would guide their personal and religious affairs.