CAIRO, Nov 30, 2012 (AFP)
CAIRO, Nov 30, 2012 (AFP)
Egypt’s draft constitution, approved in a marathon session that ended on Friday morning and that was boycotted by liberals and Christians, has drawn condemnation from rights groups.
The following are some of the charters key provisions:
Article 2: “Islam is the state religion, and Arabic its official language, and the principles of Islamic law its primary source of legislation.”
This article is taken from the constitution suspended after president Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow in early 2011, and its vague formulation is uncontroversial for most Egyptians.
An added provision narrows the “principles” to the rulings and tenets of Sunni Muslim jurisprudence, to which Christian churches and liberals object.
Article 11: “The state and society will look after morality and public
order, and standards of religious values and education.”
Rights activists say this clause, and another that tasks police with preserving public “morality,” codifies police intervention in what may be considered un-Islamic conduct.
Article 31: “Dignity is the right of every human; society and the state undertake its protection, and insulting or slandering a human is not allowed.”
Human Rights Watch Egypt director Heba Morayef says this opens to door to censorship of political criticism deemed “insulting.”
Article 33: “Citizens are equal before the law in rights and public
obligations, with no discrimination among them.”
Article 43: “Freedom of belief is safeguarded. The state guarantees freedom of performing religious rites, and establishing houses of worship, for heavenly religions.”
This article, rights activists say, limits religious freedoms to followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Article 133: The provision limits the democratically elected president to two four-year terms. Mubarak ruled continuously since 1981.
Article 195: “The minister of defence is the commander of the armed forces and is appointed from its officers.”
Article 197: Establishes a military general dominated council led by the president that discusses the military budget and must be consulted on laws pertaining to the military.
Critics say this essentially safeguards army privileges enjoyed under Mubarak.
Article 198: This provision allows the trial of civilians before military courts only “for crimes that harm the armed forces.”
Rights groups had wanted a complete ban on military trials for civilians.
