Salafists back Egypt’s new constitution
By Staff writer
| Al Arabiya News
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Thursday, 5 December 2013
People wave banners depicting people who died in previous Egyptian
revolutions at Talaat Harab square to protest against a new law
restricting demonstrations as well as the crackdown on activists, in
downtown Cairo December 3, 2013. (Reuters)
“The Nour Party will take part in this referendum and will take part with “yes,” out of our concern for bringing about stability and so that we spare the country more anarchy,” Reuters quoted Younes Makhyoun, the head of the Salafist party, as saying in a news conference.
The Nour Party’s support for the army-led political transition has set it apart from Egyptian Islamists who opposed the July 3 overthrow of President Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The draft constitution is clear about banning political parties formed on a religious basis which could include the Nour party.
The hardline Salafist party so far has one representative in the constituent assembly.
Meanwhile, the draft constitution is not accepted by activists, who see it as robbing them of their newly attained freedoms after toppling former President Honi Mubarak in the 2011 uprising.
A judicial source told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt’s public prosecutor referred three political activists to trial on charges including protesting without permission.
The activists charged on Thursday include Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 movement that helped ignite the historic 2011 uprising, and Ahmed Douma, another prominent dissident.
They were protesting against a provision in the draft constitution that allows the military to prosecute civilians in certain cases.
The protesters were detained for holding on November 26 what was the first illegal demonstration two days after interim president Adly Mansour passed a law banning unauthorized gatherings.
It was the first case of activists being charged under the provisions of a new law criticized for stifling the right to protest.
(With Reuters)
Last Update: Thursday, 5 December 2013 KSA 16:08 - GMT 13:0
Labels: Conflict, Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, December 05, 2013
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