Summary of the Proposed Amendments
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces had tasked an 11-member committee of constitutional law experts headed by Justice Tarek El-Bishri to draft amendments to the constitution with a view to ensuring a credible transition to an elected civilian authority. On Feb. 25th the Committee announced its proposed amendments, which will be open to a public debate and re-drafting prior to being voted on in popular referendum.

The following is a summary of the main changes proposed by the Committee and not a literal translation of the text of the suggested amendments.

Article 75 – Qualifications for the President

The committee proposed a number of qualifications for a person seeking to nominate themselves in presidential elections, including:


The nominee must be an Egyptian citizen
Both of the nominee’s parents must be Egyptian citizens
The nominee must not be under a suspension of political and civic rights
Neither the nominee nor the nominee’s parents may have held foreign citizenship
The nominee must not be married to a foreigner
The nominee must be at least 40 years of age


Article 76 – Presidential Elections & the State of Emergency

Nomination for Presidential Elections

The committee proposed 3 tracks for nomination in presidential elections:


Nominees must win the endorsement of 30 elected members of Parliament;
or
Nominees must win the endorsement of 30,000 registered voters from 15 governorates with at least 1000 endorsements from each of those governorates;
or
Parties with at least 1 elected seat in parliament may nominate one of their members in presidential elections.


Members of Parliament and voters may not endorse the nomination of more than 1 candidate for president.

Administration and Supervision of Presidential Elections

The committee proposed that presidential elections be administrated by a Presidential Elections Commission headed by the president of the Supreme Constitutional Court, and including as members the president of the Cairo Court of Appeals, and the most senior vice-president of the Supreme Constitutional Court, of the Court of Cassation, and of the State Council.

The committee proposed that the decisions of the Commission be final and not subject to appeal, and that the Commission be competent to rule on its mandate, which shall be defined by law.

Subsidiary committees of the Commission, which shall administer and supervise ballot casting and counting will be established according to the rules outlined in Article 88 of the constitution.

The Committee also proposed that the Law on Presidential elections must be declared constitutional by the Supreme Constitutional Court before being adopted by Parliament.

Declaration of the State of Emergency


Article 77 – Term Limits

The committee proposed that the term of the President by reduced to 4 years, and that a limit of two terms be adopted.

Article 88 – Administration and Supervision of Legislative Elections and Referendums

The committee proposed that elections and referendums, from voter registration to the announcement of results, be administered and supervised by an all-judge High Elections Commission, whose composition and mandate will be defined by law.

Members of the judiciary nominated by the supreme councils of the judicial agencies and appointed by the High Elections Commission will supervise ballot casting and counting.

Article 93 – Determination of the Validity of Membership of Parliamentarians

The Committee proposed that competence to determine the validity of membership of parliamentarians be transferred from parliament to the Supreme Constitutional Court. Challenges to the validity of the membership of a parliamentarian must be filed with the Court within 30 days of the election of the parliamentarian in question and decided upon by the Court within 90 days. The ruling the Court would be final.


Article 139 – Vice Presidents

The committee proposed that the president be required to appoint one or more vice-presidents within 60 days of taking office, and that the president shall determine them and of the vice-president. If the vice-president is dismissed from office, the president must appoint a replacement.

The same qualifications that apply to the presidency would also apply to the vice-president. (See Article 75)

Article 148 – The State of the Emergency

The Committee proposed that the consent of a majority of the members of the People’s Assembly be required to declare a state of emergency. In addition, the Committee proposed that the state of emergency could only be declared for a period of up to 6 months. Also, a renewal of the state of emergency would require a popular referendum.

The committee proposed that if the President declares a state of emergency then the People’s Assembly must review the decision within 7 days of the declaration. If the People’s Assembly is not in session at the time, the President must immediately call it to session. If the People’s Assembly is dissolved the declaration must be reviewed by it in its first session.

Article 179 – Counter-Terrorism

The committee proposed that the Article be stricken from the constitution.

Article 189 and 189 Repeated – Promulgation of a New Constitution

The committee proposed that the president or at least half the members of the People’s Assembly and the Shura Council may request the drafting of a new constitution.

The committee proposed that within 6 months of their election the elected members of the People’s Assembly and the Shura Council must appoint, by majority vote, a 100-member constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The constituent assembly would have to complete the draft within 6 months of it creation, and within 15 days of the completion of the draft constitution the president must call for a referendum on it.

Article 189 Repeated A – Transitional Rules of the Shura Council

The committee proposed that that Shura Council function without it appointment members until such time as a president is elected to fill the appointment of 1/3 of its seats.
http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/LastPage.aspx?Category_ID=1142

Poll is up! please don't vote until you read all the changes thoroughly!

Also we can use this thread for news and updates :)

Okay After reading it 3 times, I think it's fine for it's purpose.

but the "Article 75 – Qualifications for the President" section just somehow not making my heart relaxed.

especially the over 40 part. but I think it'll do for it's purpose so I voted I'm with it.

"Neither the nominee nor the nominee’s parents may have held foreign citizenship" :/

I think these 2 are stupid:

Neither the nominee nor the nominee’s parents may have held foreign citizenship
The nominee must not be married to a foreigner

Why should it matter if they have dual citizenship or if they're married to a foreigner? Does it make them less capable of running the country? Ahmed Zewail for example is an Egyptian who holds both Egyptian and American citizenship, wouldn't barring a world accredited person like him from running be a loss for Egypt?

Also, even though it may not be a priority right now, Article 2 needs to go.

Apart from that, yes the changes are great, but there's other articles left unturned, that should also be changed. I personally would like to see the entire constitution scrapped and re-written from scratch.

So I vote No in this referendum.

:lol::lol: I know guys I looked at that and went WTF WHY? I think it's because we don't live in Egypt. if you guys live in Egypt now y most probably feel like it's normal.

I think the reason for that is the same as the reason why you can go for your military service without you asking them and waiting for approval.

Simply they want to ensure that you're 100% Egyptian and care about Egypt and have it over the top. and any other countries are equal to you.

If you have American or Russian citizenship or from that decent you might favor these countries in any discussion making. for example Azmat might be from Turkish decent and hold the Swedish nationality. if for example Egypt had to go to war, he might be behind the sense planning against those countries it just wont work for him.

If for example Egypt opened a bid for nuclear plant and several companies from several countries offered help he might favor specific country. I think that how it works.
___________________________________________________


As for other things, I think as the president will be elected after the parliament. The second he enter his office he and the Parliament must according to Article 189 and 189 must start working on canceling the constitution and work on the new one. they will have no time.

Also if the elections were free as the army promised the guy should be honest with himself and us really right? he want to build not more chaos right? also we can always do another revolution, 27na warana eih? the point is not what they do we can always kick 'em out but it's about the time will takes us to learn and do it the proper way.

So really I wouldn't worry about Article 2. these changes are just there for the transition. getting rid of article 2 wont do us any good or bad in the upcoming months until this constitution goes in the bin. we're looking more into the transition rather than the final product. this isn't the constitution we going to live with. this is just one that we change to move faster.

:lol::lol: I know guys I looked at that and went WTF WHY? I think it's because we don't live in Egypt. if you guys live in Egypt now y most probably feel like it's normal.

I think the reason for that is the same as the reason why you can go for your military service without you asking them and waiting for approval.

Simply they want to ensure that you're 100% Egyptian and care about Egypt and have it over the top. and any other countries are equal to you.

If you have American or Russian citizenship or from that decent you might favor these countries in any discussion making. for example Azmat might be from Turkish decent and hold the Swedish nationality. if for example Egypt had to go to war, he might be behind the sense planning against those countries it just wont work for him.

If for example Egypt opened a bid for nuclear plant and several companies from several countries offered help he might favor specific country. I think that how it works.
___________________________________________________


As for other things, I think as the president will be elected after the parliament. The second he enter his office he and the Parliament must according to Article 189 and 189 must start working on canceling the constitution and work on the new one. they will have no time.

Also if the elections were free as the army promised the guy should be honest with himself and us really right? he want to build not more chaos right? also we can always do another revolution, 27na warana eih? the point is not what they do we can always kick 'em out but it's about the time will takes us to learn and do it the proper way.

So really I wouldn't worry about Article 2. these changes are just there for the transition. getting rid of article 2 wont do us any good or bad in the upcoming months until this constitution goes in the bin. we're looking more into the transition rather than the final product. this isn't the constitution we going to live with. this is just one that we change to move faster.

http://www.memestick.com/images/MULTIPIC/awhellnaw.jpg

I'm 75% pure Egyptian (Coptic ancestry). :mad:

how about he 15%? I'm not saying you might favor Turkey over Egypt or Sweden over Egypt. I'm saying like you might Favor Sweden over Russia for Nuclear plants for example.

I'm torn between "agreeing" and "disagreeing."

I can't take a complete stance yet. So much is at stake, and having the army rule the country for over 6 months (possibly a year) will leave Egypt much weaker and more vulnerable.

Why doesn't the army hand presidential powers over to say, Sami Anan, who would rule the country for a full year transition. Having the full higher military council ruling the country for more than six months is not a good choice, and a risk we should not take.

I think that's what they're trying to do now but more democratic way. because really after the president arrive to his office 6 months later they'll have a new constitution then they do another constitutional referendum and really that means another elections right?

I think that's what they're trying to do now but more democratic way. because really after the president arrive to his office 6 months later they'll have a new constitution then they do another constitutional referendum and really that means another elections right?

Yes, but how can we guarantee that the president will indeed go ahead and rewrite the constitution? With parliamantary elections only three months ago, the parliamant could very much not represent the majority of Egyptians.

I'd rather see the army place an influential figure in power, like Sami Anan, who would guarantee the changes, while the rest of the army has the ability to function as a protector of Egypt from foreign intervention. I mean our borders today are not very safe: Israel-Gaza-Sudan-Libya. Having the army stationed in every Egyptian street for over six month is not a favourable option for me.

Yes, but really that depends on the elections if they're fair then we can say that what Egyptians wants.

But seriously do you really think after 25th January any other dictator will think about putting himself in the same situation? I highly doubt at least not in the next decade.

Yes, but really that depends on the elections if they're fair then we can say that what Egyptians wants.

But seriously do you really think after 25th January any other dictator will think about putting himself in the same situation? I highly doubt at least not in the next decade.

Even if the elections are free, most political parties will not be ready for the elections in three months. Thus, the Muslim Brotherhood and whatever remains of the NDP and its off-shoots will have a higher chance of gaining more seats.

The Muslim Brotherhood are basically the only political force urging voters to vote in favour of the current changes. I wonder why? :D

Even if the elections are free, most political parties will not be ready for the elections in three months. Thus, the Muslim Brotherhood and whatever remains of the NDP and its off-shoots will have a higher chance of gaining more seats.

The Muslim Brotherhood are basically the only political force urging voters to vote in favour of the current changes. I wonder why? :D

:| true infact if not political part is ready then the NDP and the MB are not ready too! It's the same for everyone. why are these two more ready than everyone. everyone say the same thing on TV but why? if they're ready then why the others are not ready? they all have the same period of time.

Also MB said they will seek 35% of the votes. and really after what we saw from the NDP on 25jan onward will make people triple think before ticking.

the time period is same for us to decided and the parties to campaign. but I believe only the most organized and well planned party that will drag much attention in that small period of time. really at the end only a well qualified party will be able to get things sorted in that time. If non of the parties did then really we don't have a well qualified party.

also really do these parties only go around campaigning and help people to get popularity around the elections? they should be doing this services 24/7!

I know the MB is after something. announcing no presidential candidate and 25% of the seats. but whatever it is. from the look of these things it doesn't seem it's a short term plan it seem like a long term plan.

Also as I mentioned most likely after the "new" constitution will be up they'll hold new elections. so we're more interested in the next elections if it's going this way.

After reading article 75 again I think it's discriminatory toward us so I want to change my voting selection can you do that to me egypt69?

I'm with it.

The army already announced that parliamentary elections will be postponed, may be till September, and that freedom of parties formation will be allowed once the constitutional referendum is accepted.

We need to step forward.

Woow we are so open minded that the poll is equal now 25% each!

Btw can egyptians outside egypt vote?

I'm with it.

The army already announced that parliamentary elections will be postponed, may be till September, and that freedom of parties formation will be allowed once the constitutional referendum is accepted.

We need to step forward.

When did they delay the paliamentary elections? Do you have a link/source?

Aren't the presidential elections in September as well? Or will it be postponed?

The biggest problem right now is that the army has yet to put a clear vision and roadmap for the transition. Thats the main reason for our confusion.

Btw can egyptians outside egypt vote?

Nope. But we might be able to for the presidential elections. The army has yet to confirm though.

Something is wrong about this. I'm sure the current constitution give us the right to vote out side Egypt. And they doing changes and block our rights? why?

Approx. How many Egyptians outside Egypt. I highly doubt that us Egyptians outside Egypt are a small number we do have influence. Plus they're freaking changing it that weeeee cannot be elected according to article 75 and that's not all they don't want us to vote? Pathetic!

Something is just wrong about this.

I feel like these changes are made to prevent people like El Baradei from becoming president. Ridiculous...

Something is wrong about this. I'm sure the current constitution give us the right to vote out side Egypt. And they doing changes and block our rights? why?

Approx. How many Egyptians outside Egypt. I highly doubt that us Egyptians outside Egypt are a small number we do have influence. Plus they're freaking changing it that weeeee cannot be elected according to article 75 and that's not all they don't want us to vote? Pathetic!

Something is just wrong about this.

The 1971 Constiution (the one we currently want to change), will be revived if the majority vote for the changes. Sadat's constitution does not give us the right to vote. The army however is promising to make it possible for us at least during the presidential elections.

Again, confusion due to an unclear vision by the army.

When did they delay the paliamentary elections? Do you have a link/source?

Aren't the presidential elections in September as well? Or will it be postponed?

The biggest problem right now is that the army has yet to put a clear vision and roadmap for the transition. Thats the main reason for our confusion.

An army official announced it yesterday in masr elnaharda
Presidential elections will be by the end of the year

I feel like these changes are made to prevent people like El Baradei from becoming president. Ridiculous...

No it will not prevent Albaradie from running for presidency.
It will prevent Zwel though.

No it will not prevent Albaradie from running for presidency.
It will prevent Zwel though.

I thought El Baradei had a foreign citizenship?

The following articles (From AhramOnline) could be very helpful if you're still confused about whether the changes are good or bad in the longterm democratic process.

Vote Yes without delay

Anyone who is keen to have life return to normal as soon as possible should approve the proposed constitutional amendments. The revolution is a success, erasing tyranny and social injustice; like any revolution it was like an earthquake that shook the foundations of state and society. Now it is time to restore what can be restored and rebuild what was destroyed under the pressure of revolution. Hence, I am calling on all Egyptians to vote for the constitutional amendments during the referendum on Saturday.

The suggested amendments offer a clear roadmap — no longer than 18 months in duration — to a new constitution drafted by a committee chosen by members of parliament, and put to a referendum for all the Egyptian people. The suggested amendments do not give us a new constitution but are a bridge to safely drafting a new permanent constitution. I call on all good citizens to consider the amendments a temporary measure and not to judge them as the constitution by which the country will be administered in the coming years.

The best part of these amendments is that while pointing the way through the interim period, they have not left the country with a power vacuum and political unknowns. Instead, they propose filling this vacuum with legitimate, elected institutions after free and honest elections for the People’s Assembly and Shura Council are held, under complete supervision by the judiciary. They also refer to the election of a president who is legitimate and holds complete power, albeit restricted to prevent the elected president from becoming a new dictator who squanders our chance to move forward towards overall democracy.

I believe that electing a president and the two houses of parliament is a vital step laid out in the amendments, vital while the challenges facing Egypt are intense. We cannot ignore these challenges during a long interim period as we build governing institutions and a constitutional framework. Meanwhile, the economy is under severe pressure because of the standstill brought about by unrest. This is combined with the unstable legitimacy of authorities that draw their legitimacy from the political system that we must rebuild quickly.

Foreign challenges facing Egypt will also not wait until we slowly finish writing a permanent constitution and building a new political system. The challenges surrounding us, from the east and west and south, cannot be neglected and are too perilous for us to distract our heroic army from addressing them.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/4/7603/Opinion/Vote-Yes-without-delay.aspx

Constitutional discrimination?

A remarkable statement was issued by the spiritual leaders of Egypt’s churches about Article 2 of the Constitution, urging for it not to be amended and supporting a democratic civic state.

Article 2 was amended by President Sadat in 1980 to state that Islam is the religion of the state and that Sharia (Islamic law) is the main source of legislation. Before that, Islamic Sharia was one of the main sources of legislation not the main source of legislation. Sadat did not intend to take the amendment of Article 2 literally, but by changing the Constitution he was trying to outdo his Islamist foes whose power had grown at the time.

Sadat was assassinated at the hands of the Islamists and Egypt has since changed extensively, but Article 2 as amended by Sadat remains. What Sadat thought was a manoeuvre to circumvent the Islamists has become an asset for them which they will not rescind. The majority of average Muslims in Egypt do not uphold Article 2 literally but hold on to its symbolic value. Their opinion and feelings should be respected, which is what the statement by the leaders of the Egyptian churches did in a way, demonstrating sound political and patriotic sense.

The statement by Egyptian churches clearly states the position of Christians in Egypt regarding Article 2 and removes them from the ongoing debate about it. There will continue to be forces who demand that Article 2 is amended, as is their right, and some Coptic Christians will also adopt this position as private Egyptian citizens who have the right to express their opinion, but not as representatives of Egyptian churches or the majority of Egyptian Christians.

Article 2 of the Constitution may remain as it is and the Christians of Egypt would be guaranteed all the rights of citizenship; but it may be amended and Christians are subjected to true discrimination. It is not about the text but how it is interpreted. In a society which is peppered with fanatics, Copts and many others will be subjected to discrimination regardless of the text of the Constitution. Meanwhile, in a society which embraces pluralism and freedom of opinion and worship, Article 2 as it stands would be interpreted in a way which guarantees all Egyptians equal rights irrespective of their faith.

That is the truth of the matter. So let’s close the door on the debate about Article 2 of the Constitution, and focus our efforts instead on spreading the values of freedom, equality, justice and citizenship. That is the truer, stronger and more effective guarantee than a text in the Constitution.

Shortcomings of the new Constitution committee

I was surprised when I read about the new committee for constitutional amendments headed by Tarek El-Bishry with lawmakers, a representative for Copts and another from the Muslim Brotherhood. I thought that after the glorious popular revolution, which raised the banners of freedom, justice and dignity, that a committee would be formed to rewrite the entire Constitution (and not just to amend it) in order for it to correspond with the goals and demands of the revolution. But, unfortunately, the composition of the committee has nothing whatsoever to do with what millions of Egyptian revolutionaries – youth, men, women and children – had called for.

The committee should have included honourable intellectuals who combine both the qualities of aptitude and integrity from across the political, legal, economic, social, intellectual and cultural spectrum. It should also include representatives from all strata of society, including the youth, women, Copts and Muslims. Amending the Constitution is not the exclusive preserve of men of law, but the entire population, all sectors, and most prominently progressive advanced thinkers who are in step with the Egyptian People’s Revolution which demanded the ouster of the regime – not just the removal of the president and a rearrangement of members of his regime.

I don’t know what the criteria were for choosing the committee’s members; how can it not include the youth after they triggered this revolution and stood their ground and sacrificed their blood in order for it to succeed. There are hundreds of thinkers among their ranks who are qualified in every sector, including the law.

Neither did the committee include one single woman from the intellectuals in political, social and other fields, or even one female law professor, counsel or judge although Egypt has hundreds of them. The Great Revolution was undertaken by men and women, not only men, and based on freedom and justice. How is it, then, that women are blocked from their right to participate in drafting a new civic Constitution which does not discriminate between citizens on the basis of their gender, religion, ethnicity, creed, class or any other criterion.

Women constitute half of society (a much higher percentage than the Muslim Brotherhood or Copts), they participated in the popular revolution side by side with men, their blood was also spilled and they spent 20 cold nights in the rain in Tahrir Square since 25 January, until Mubarak was ousted. They too swept and cleaned up Tahrir Square before they went home. So how is it that they are denied the right to participate in building society and the new regime? Is this the justice the revolution demanded?

History has taught us how popular revolutions are aborted by remnants of the ousted regime, and the first thing to be abandoned is the rights of women. We have learnt our lesson, and as soon as we returned from Tahrir we formed the Popular Committee for Establishing the Egyptian Women’s Union, which was aborted several times under the regime of Mubarak and his wife. This scattered the power of women in Egypt and subjected them to the control of the cabinet and the First Lady.

The success of Egypt’s Popular Revolution of 25 January relied on unity, awareness and organisation. The power of millions of organised and conscientious people overpowered all the weapons of the regime, including a brutal police and a deceptive media maligning the men and women of the revolution by labeling them as traitors and enemy agents. But these weapons of the government were decimated in the face of a united, cognizant, peaceful force of the Egyptian people.

Accordingly, the establishment of the Egyptian Women’s Union is necessary to unite and organise women in order for them to become an enlightened political force capable of imposing their rights and presence on all institutions, from the top to the bottom. It will represent women in a just way in all the new committees, including the one for amending the Constitution, in order to draft a new civic Constitution treating all citizens as equal, without discrimination on the basis of gender, religion or any other criterion.

Today, we demand that qualified and honourable Egyptian women join the committee for constitutional amendments which was formed recently to draft a new Constitution. Why should it only last for ten days? Why the hurry? Amending the Constitution is the most important step at this stage, and it must be done with diligence and the contribution of representatives for all the revolutionaries.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/4/0/6129/Opinion/Shortcomings-of-the-new-Constitution-committee.aspx

Constitutional Patriotism – Completing Egypt’s Revolution

“Her length is a month's journey, and width is ten months. Her sky is clear, her Nile is sweet and her land is most fertile. Her women are unique wonders, and her men are toys. A piper will bring the people together, and a stick will separate them. They belong to him who conquers and controls.”

With these words, a 7th century Muslim general is said to have described Egypt. Though the quote’s authenticity is unconfirmed, Egypt’s history has lent credence repeatedly to the portrayal of a people resigned to the rule of successive potentates, be they pharaohs, emperors, caliphs, sultans, khedives, kings, or presidents. Yet, in the wake of the nationwide civilian revolutionary movement that began on 25th January 2011, the supposed passivity of the Egyptians has been challenged like never before.

In a mere 18 days, the Egyptian people succeeded in peacefully toppling an autocrat who had ruled them for almost 30 years. However, in as much as the millions of protesters were certain of what they did not want, namely the continuation of Hosni Mubarak’s presidency, they remain unsure of who or what they wish to take his place. With power now transferred to the Supreme Military Council, Egypt stands at a crossroads: one path leading to a slightly amended political system, a vaguely revised constitution, and much vaunted ‘stability’ (the Egyptian attribute most favored by Western governments); the other path offering comprehensive reform, a new constitution, and the fundamental re-balancing of the citizens’ role in the country, but also the prospect of social, economic, and political upheaval. Not for the first time in Egypt’s recent history, those seeking revolutionary change are faced with stark choices.

The historical comparison with the abdication of King Farouk in July 1952 looms large: the military fulfilling their obligation to defend the security and freedom of the people, the departure of a hated head of state, army officers assuming governmental power, and the initial overflowing of the people’s joy. But the difference is clear. Though drawing its inspiration from the overwhelming public mood, events in 1952 were army led – a ‘top down revolution’ with the military initiating change, and the people called upon to give their consent, but not their input. The unprecedented nationwide movement of 2011 is the reverse. This time, it is the people who have overthrown the dictator, and the military who have been asked to join the revolution. This time, it is the people who are staking their claim to determining the destiny of their country.

Notwithstanding the undeniable public enthusiasm that followed the fall of the monarchy, the lack of popular participation in the revolutionary period thereafter led to a host of problems that impeded the realization of its stated aims. The negative consequences included a constitutional system framed in the absence of genuine public consultation (arguably influenced more by the political experiences of France than of Egypt), the construction of a political system thoroughly ill-suited to civilian party political participation, and a strict authoritarian structure where the protection of basic civil liberties became little more than illusory, as evidenced by the brutality visited upon peaceful protesters in recent weeks. Whilst one would have to be lacking in patriotic spirit to be unmoved by the inspirational preamble of the existing constitution, which captures the essence of Egypt’s achievements, travails, and hopes, one would similarly have to overlook the fact that the specific articles throughout the rest of the document have proved to be exiguous in practice, unworthy of the stirring prose of the preamble, and insufficient to realize the lofty goals stated therein.

Egypt now has the chance to rectify the mistakes of the past. Yet, despite the military’s suspension of the constitution, and dissolution of a parliament born of a rigged election, the cabinet appointed by Mubarak in the dying days of his presidency (containing persons discredited entirely in the view of the protesters) remains in place. A revolution that achieves only one of its objectives is a revolution undeserving of the name. Millions did not protest merely for the removal of Mubarak, and cosmetic changes to a discredited system. Those who were cut down by agents of the regime in the streets of Cairo, Alexandra, Suez, and beyond gave their lives for a new system where the future of the country would be shaped by the people, not by the whims of a handful of politicians and businessmen divorced from the reality of the country’s plight.

The inescapable conclusion is that, at present, this is an unfinished revolution. However, many opposition figures and organizers of the youth movement have expressed confidence and satisfaction in the transition process being outlined, including the pledge to complete constitutional amendments within 10 days, confirmed by a popular referendum in two months, and elections in September. Put simply, this is the first time in the six millennia of Egypt’s existence that the country’s civilian population has the opportunity to select their own leader free of monarchical control, foreign occupation, the constraints of Cold War politics, or the domination of one man desperate to retain his power. Egyptians should not surrender this moment, or the incredible gains that they have won with their blood.

To embrace constitutional amendments in 10 days as progress ignores the sophistication and complexity of the constitution's role. It would take a team of constitutional scholars days to perform a mere cursory review of the constitution. To expect the members of the youth movement, the opposition parties, and the military guardians of the country to complete both the review and amendment process in a mere 10 days is asking too much of even the most loyal of public servants. Moreover, such an objective suggests a lack of appreciation of the power of such a sacred document in the functioning of the state. In terms of the impact that it will have on the lives of all Egyptians, only the holy scriptures of the country’s respective religious communities are of greater importance. At this unique juncture in Egypt’s history, it is necessary for the people to take the time to contemplate the future that they seek for themselves, their children, and their children's children, and how they hope to achieve it.

The enormity of this task has been ignored by many. For decades, Egypt has labored under a constitution that entrenched the power of the president at the cost of the legislature (reduced to a rubber stamp parliament), the judiciary (harried, harassed, and ignored), and the citizenry (rendered mere spectators in the political life of the state). It is a document in need not of isolated amendments, but of wholesale revision and re-drafting. Some may deem 10 days sufficient to provide the country with an interim solution to facilitate the conduct of government during these months of transition, but it cannot suffice thereafter. The people have won the opportunity to write their own future, carry constitutional conversations, and ultimately select their form of government. An intrinsic fear of reactionary vested interests, and the intrigues of imperial powers meant that the Egyptians lost this opportunity during an earlier revolution. They cannot afford to lose it again.

A fully-fledged constitutional convention, with participation open to all political, social, and professional groups now contributing to the national dialogue, would be the forum and the mechanism by which such hopes could be realized. Egyptians will need to grapple with crucial topics, such as, among others: the extent they wish the executive branch to have a leading role (as in the U.K. for example), or to be constrained by powerful legislative and judicial branches (as in the U.S.A.); whether there should be a public right to recall of the President (as in Venezuela), or whether a parliamentary vote of no confidence should be the instrument to force the fall of the executive; whether their civil, French-influenced legal system is satisfactory, or whether modifications and innovations are required; and which voting system (first past the post, alternative vote, proportional representation, etc.) is best suited to their country. Crucially, they will have to consider the best means of reconciling the avowedly religious nature of most Egyptians with their aversion to religious pre-eminence in state affairs, recognizing that the authoritarian strands of French laïcité, and Turkish Kemalism are as alien to Egypt as Iranian Wilayat al Faqih.

The military have the requisite moral authority and popular support to make this constitutional convention a reality. As in times gone by, the military have responded to the call of their countrymen. If they can now facilitate the emergence of a new constitutional order that truly empowers Egypt’s citizens, they will have justified the protesters’ declaration that “The army and the people are one”.

The gravity of this moment should not be lost on anyone, nor should the fact that genuine threats wait in the wings. One year from now, the Tahrir Square spirit is likely to have diminished, while erstwhile factionalism will have returned. Where on 11th February 2011 stood simply Egyptians, in one year shall once again stand fragmented and opposing groups: rich and poor; secularists and religionists; left wing and right wing; and, though one would like to believe otherwise, potentially Muslims and Christians. At this point, while many hope that a government of national unity will emerge from free and fair elections, there is no guarantee that those holding a majority in a new parliament will be willing to defer to the concerns of smaller political groups, or that a newly elected President will not determine that the electoral mandate given to him by the people should result in policies determined by him alone. The present leaderless commitment to national unity is one of the Egyptians’ greatest assets. They must use it while they still have it.

Now is the time to harness this passionate and joyous nationalism and direct it towards national renewal through a new constitution that confirms and protects the victories that have been won at such great cost. Constitutional patriotism has the potential to be the embodiment of the nationalism that was displayed so visibly in the protests.

Egyptians should now consider what it really means to build a society based on genuine electoral accountability and popular representative government, beyond placing an index finger in an ink-bottle, and offering victory signs. To develop bona fide political parties, as opposed to fragmented and marginal groupings, to learn what they stand for, what their candidates will do for the economy, the healthcare system, the education system, unemployment, and across the full range of political issues.

These are the questions that need to be addressed, debated, and resolved, and the only means of so doing is through a constitutional convention. If the people are truly invested and involved in building the new system, they will respect and defend it against all threats, be they foreign or domestic.

This is how Egypt can honor their fallen heroes. As wonderful as it was to hear the assembled millions in squares across the country recite in unison the words of the national anthem, one might wonder how even more meaningful would it be to hear them recite the words of a new constitution that truly enshrined the freedoms for which they struggled, and for which their kinsmen gave their lives.

Egypt’s new revolutionaries, who are now being given the false choice between ‘stability’ and chaos, should remember that a graveyard is stable, but offers no prospect for the blossoming of new life. Egypt’s history, culture, and religious beliefs compel Egyptians to strive for the best, and seek wisdom from every quarter in which it can be found.

Let the world’s oldest nation state learn from its own experiences, and those of other states. Let the Egyptians frame a constitution worthy of the sacrifices made in the name of its Revolution, and all righteous revolutions, struggles, and battles that their noble people have fought throughout their history. For a new Egypt to rise up, the peaceful march of reform must continue. Until then, the mission is not complete.


http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/4/0/5818/Opinion/Constitutional-Patriotism-%E2%80%93-Completing-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Rev.aspx

BTW, AhramOnline also had a poll concerning the constiutional changes. And the results thus far are as follows:

YES to the Changes - 33%
NO to the Change - 44%
Boycott - 0%
Demand the poll to be called off - 22%
Demand the poll to be delayed - 0%

I thought El Baradei had a foreign citizenship?

He does not. :)

Article 75 will mostly effect us outside Egypt, therefore if they'll change it they MUST take our voice! It's really pathetic there is no country in the world like this. look at Brazil they're most from Lebanon decent yet miles ahead of Egypt.

A temporary constitutional declaration (14 articles) has been proposed by an influential Egyptian Judge who is also running for the presidency. His name his Hisham Bastawisi. Please read it carefully.


بعد أن أسقطت جماهير الشعب فى «ثورة 25 يناير» البيضاء دستور سنة 1971، ورغبة فى سرعة تثبيت قواعد الحكم أثناء فترة الانتقال من الحكم الديكتاتورى الفاسد إلى نظام حكم ديمقراطى، السيادة فيه للشعب فعلاً وقولاً، ولكى تنعم البلاد باستقرار شامل يتيح لقوى شعبها العامل والاستثمار الجاد والشريف والعودة للإنتاج، والنهوض بمصر إلى المكانة التى نرجوها لها جميعا، فإن مجلس الرئاسة يعلن باسم الشعب، أن حكم البلاد فى فترة الانتقال سيكون وفقاً للأحكام التالية:


أولا - مبادئ عامة:

مادة 1: جميع السلطات مصدرها الشعب

مادة 2: المصريون لدى القانون سواء فيما لهم من حقوق وما عليهم من واجبات، وإليهم وحدهم يعهد بالوظائف العامة المدنية والعسكرية. وتضمن الدولة ممارسة هذه الحقوق لجميع المواطنين.

مادة 3: الحرية الشخصية وحرية الرأى مكفولتان فى حدود القانون، وللملكية وللمنازل حرمة وفق أحكام القانون

مادة 4: حرية العقيدة مطلقة وتحمى الدولة حرية القيام بشعائر الأديان والعقائد طبقا للعادات المرعية فيها، على ألا يخل بالنظام العام ولا ينافى الآداب.

مادة 5: تسليم اللاجئين السياسيين محظور

مادة 6: لا يجوز إنشاء ضريبة إلا بقانون، ولا يكلف أحد بأداء رسم إلا بناء على قانون، ولا يجوز إعفاء أحد من ضريبة إلا فى الأحوال المبينة فى القانون

مادة 7: القضاء مستقل لا سلطان عليه لغير القانون، وتصدر أحكامه وتنفذ وفق القانون باسم الشعب


ثانيا - نظام الحكم

مادة 8: رئاسة الدولة تكون لمجلس ثلاثى (مجلس الرئاسة) يسهر على تأكيد سيادة القانون، ويرعى الحدود بين السلطات، وتعرض عليه قرارات الحكومة (رئيس مجلس الوزراء ونوابه والوزراء ونوابهم) للتصديق عليها حيثما تكون متفقة مع أحكام القانون والدستور، وله حق الاعتراض عليها فى حالة مخالفتها للدستور أو القانون

مادة 9: يتولى مجلس الرئاسة أعمال السيادة العليا وبصفة خاصة التدابير التى يراها ضرورية لحماية هذه الثورة والنظام القائم عليها لتحقيق أهدافها كما يتولى تعيين الوزراء وعزلهم

مادة 10: مدة مجلس الرئاسة سنة واحدة يتولى فيها السلطة التشريعية والإعداد لوضع دستور جديد تقوم به هيئة تأسيسية منتخبة لغرض وضع الدستور. كما يقوم مجلس الرئاسة بوضع قانون جديد لمباشرة الحقوق السياسية تمهيداً لانتخاب مجلس تشريعى وانتخاب رئيس جمهورية

مادة 11: تصدر قرارات مجلس الرئاسة بإجماع الآراء. ويكون اختيار أعضاء مجلس الرئاسة بالتوافق بين المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة وقيادات ثورة 25 يناير لمدة سنة واحدة. ولمجلس الرئاسة اختيار لجان معاونة له فى الشئون التشريعية وفى الشئون الإدارية

مادة 12: لا يجوز لأعضاء مجلس الرئاسة الترشح للانتخابات التى تجرى طوال الفترة التى تتشكل فيها الجمعية التأسيسية لوضع الدستور، أو لاختيار رئيس الجمهورية أو لانتخاب أعضاء البرلمان الجديد.

مادة 13: يتولى مجلس الوزراء والوزراء كل فيما يخصه أعمال السلطة التنفيذية

مادة 14: يتألف من مجلس الرئاسة ومجلس الوزراء مجلس أعلى ينظر فى السياسة العامة للدولة وما يتصل بها من موضوعات ويناقش ما يرى مناقشته من تصرفات كل وزير فى وزارته وكذلك القرارات والتشريعات المتصلة بأعمال السيادة والعلاقات الدولية

Source: http://www.alwafd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23311%3A%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7&catid=102%3A%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B9+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A&Itemid=105

This would be perfect, in my opinion. A temporary constiutional declaration, a presidential council, and a new constiution in a year followed by elections. Perfect.

Good news.

Egypt Military considers postponing constitutional referendum, hold presidential elections first

Well informed sources have confirmed that there is a strong trend within the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to hold back the constitutional amendment referendum planned for 19 March, after a number of prominent political voices positioned themselves to vote against the amendments. Commenting on this, a source from the Supreme Council said: “Our eyes are on the opinion of the street and the existing political forces in the interest of the country, and if this is the trend among the people, then there is no problem in delaying the referendum." He went on to add, however, "the Supreme Military Council wants to bring an end to its role in governance as soon as possible.”


A government source, who met with the military council to discuss parliamentary and presidency elections, told Ahram Online that “the council is now leaning, though as yet undecided, towards holding the presidential election first, before parliamentary elections, and that the president would take his oath of office before the head of the supreme constitutional court." The elected president, the source said, would then invite a Constituent Assembly to formulate a new Constitution, which in turn would be put to a referendum ahead of parliamentary elections. The source went on to point out that this position came out of a meeting between the military council and the prime minister.


In a poll conducted by the Egyptian cabinet's Information Support Center on Saturday, 59 per cent said they would reject the amendments. Commenting on this, the military source said that he expected more of these polls to resolve the issue finally in the next few days.


In a similar vein, Judge Hossam Mekawy, head of the South Cairo Court and one of the most prominent representatives of the Judicial Independence trend, told Ahram Online “the military council has one eye on the situation in the street and another on the opinion makers among the political and intellectual elite.”


Mekawy pointed out that a vote on the constitutional amendments introduced by a specially constituted committee would, in fact, prove faulty in legal terms. Such a referendum had no legal basis in the 1971 Constitution, which the military had suspended, but which would be revived in the event the amendments were approved by popular referendum, creating a legally anomalous situation. Furthermore, he pointed out, the amendments do not touch on the seeping presidential powers which the 1971 constitution grants the president, and there is no guarantee that a president elected in accordance with that constitution will want to relinquish such powers.


He continued, “there are more problems for the military council studying the process of holding a referendum and elections as the military council are not covered by any article in the 1971 Constitution. The term ‘suspension of the Constitution’ is a legal anomaly and the problem remains that the military council does not have the right to either call presidential or parliamentary elections or name a committee before the Constitution falls completely.”


Mekawy added that, in fact, "the military council overthrew the president, for there is no constitutional or legally binding text that says the president can hand over his powers to the military, which underlines that he was forced to do so.”

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/7611/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-Military-considers-postponing-constitutional.aspx

Good news!

Approx. How many Egyptians outside Egypt..

Alot, 8 Million I think!

Look at the table on the right: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptians

Majority of us in Libya (2,000,000 before violence), Saudi Arabia (900,000 in 2004, im sure it's much higher now), and USA (800,000).

And Egyptians abroad contribute a lot to the economy through remmitances, I believe around $10 Billion a year. So yes, we should have every right to vote!

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/4/0/5818/Opinion/Constitutional-Patriotism-%E2%80%93-Completing-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Rev.aspx


This article is excellent :applause:




People who say No to the Referendum:

Amr Moussa, ElBaradei, the Judges Club, Ibrahim Issa, Albestawessy, the Wafd Party, Hassan Nafaa, Amr Hamzawy, Amr Shubaki, Naguib Sawiris, Kamal Abou El Magd,....

People who say yes to the Referendum:

Brotherhood, the Salafists, the remnants of the National Democratic Party


It's pretty clear, to me at least, that I want to vote NO, and that the intentions of everyone is now very clear.

Something is wrong about this. I'm sure the current constitution give us the right to vote out side Egypt. And they doing changes and block our rights? why?

Approx. How many Egyptians outside Egypt. I highly doubt that us Egyptians outside Egypt are a small number we do have influence. Plus they're freaking changing it that weeeee cannot be elected according to article 75 and that's not all they don't want us to vote? Pathetic!

Something is just wrong about this.

But you can still go to Egypt and vote if you have the egyptian id card or egyptian passport!
But i doubt of the possibility to vote via our embassy.

Ya, but I'm sure when we contribute to the economy and egypt's debts we don't go to egypt and pay, and so we should have the option to vote where we are. Look at other countries as example sudan for example ...

f0TrBzUC46g&feature=player_embedded

:lol:

http://estefta2.eg/

Very Good Op-Ed, that's also why I'd vote No:

Why I will vote ‘no’

Egypt is abuzz these days with discussions over the proposed amendments to the 1971 constitution. The country is divided into two camps, each rallying supporters to vote for or against the amendments in the referendum tentatively scheduled for March 19 by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). In a poll conducted by the Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center, 58 percent of over 60,000 participants said they “would not agree to the suggested modifications of the Egyptian Constitution.”

From the beginning, I have set my mind against any amendments to the constitution, seeing the question as a matter of principle: the 1971 constitution had lost its legitimacy with the fall of the Mubarak regime and with the SCAF’s decision to abrogate it, acknowledging the revolution as the only source of legitimacy. Many prominent figures, including reform advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, have stood against any constitutional amendments and have called instead for a declaration of constitutional principles to govern the interim period leading to the drafting of a new constitution.

Despite my objection in principle to amending a defunct and illegitimate constitution, I have decided, for the sake of pursuing an informed discussion with the proponents of the amendments, to put together my objections to the details of the proposed changes.

1. Proponents of the amendments affirm that the proposed amendment to Article 189 bis renders the constitution temporary by obliging the coming president and parliament to call for drafting of a new constitution within six months. However, the amendments leave room for much doubt due to their loose linguistic formulation which puts Article 189 bis subject to Article 189, leaving room for interpretation of whether it actually mandates drafting a new constitution. If we assume, for the sake of argument, that the constitution is to be rendered temporary, what is the purpose of amending Article 77 to change the presidential term from six to four years, renewable once, since this article will not be there after the issuing of the new constitution?

2. The president’s constitutional privileges have not been touched, including her power to unconditionally dissolve the parliament. If the answer to this objection is that it is a temporary constitution, then why is there a proposal to amend Article 77 and not other articles that are equally controversial?

3. The system of government is not even remotely defined between parliamentary and presidential systems. If it is a presidential system, there is no role for a prime minister who is appointed by the president, de facto rendering the latter unaccountable; if it is a parliamentary system, the constitution should clearly state that the parliamentary majority forms the government. The amendments retain the current deformed system of government that does not guarantee any real separation of powers.

4. The parliamentary term is still five years, while the presidential term is now four. This disparity leads to one election affecting the other unsystematically. Presidential and parliamentary elections should be held at equal intervals.

5. The amendment to Article 75 regulating the eligibility of candidates for presidential elections states that the candidate, or any of her parents, must not have ever held any other nationality and that she be not married to a non-Egyptian. The first part runs against the principle of non-retroactivity and holds the candidate responsible for her parents’ choices. The second part takes away from the political rights of candidates based on their choice in marriage, which violates a basic human right.

6. Two objections to the proposed amendments to Article 76 regarding the elections of the president of the republic: First, it states that the decisions of the presidential election committee (formed of judges) are final, self-validated and cannot be appealed before any judicial authority, rendering a certain entity a judge and a potential litigant, in a clear violation of procedural law; second, the amendment deletes the stipulation that a president-elect be announced when she obtains a simple majority, which requires a second round of elections between the two candidates with the highest votes if no candidate obtains the simple majority in the first round. The proposed amendment allows for a candidate to win by simply obtaining a plurality of votes.

7. The proposed amendment to Article 139 obliges the president to appoint a vice-president, whose role is to be questioned. If Egypt is to be governed by a presidential system of government, then the vice-president has to be elected with the president.

8. The proposed amendments to Article 189 and 189 bis put the council of ministers - appointed by the president - in charge of approving the president’s demand to amend the constitution, which puts an entity appointed by the president as the adjudicator of her decision, adding to the confusion regarding the authority of the president.

Now, the burden is on the opponents of the amendments to propose an alternative route. Many have proposed alternatives, among which I propose three immediate steps for the interim period:

1. A brief declaration of constitutional principles to affirm basic rights, govern the interim period and outline its stages.

2. An interim presidential council of three to five civilians, elected through an open-list system, who cannot run for the coming presidential or parliamentary elections.

3. A constitutional convention, elected through a proportional or semi-proportional system, to draft a constitution to be put to a referendum.

The proposed timetable is one year, allowing for the election of a presidential council, a constitutional convention, and the drafting and voting on a new constitution. This period is also meant to provide a healthy atmosphere for the formation of new political parties and for the democratic practice of political rights.

Needless to say, what we now need is open discussions and deliberations to produce the best alternatives we can have, instead of quickly surrendering to trade-offs. The spirit of the revolution implies believing in our collective efficacy, rather than fearing the unknown and resorting to half solutions.

Soha Bayoumi is a PhD candidate at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (SciencesPo) and visiting fellow and teaching assistant at Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/354307

f0TrBzUC46g&feature=player_embedded

:lol:

Yanhar eswid

NO NO NO :lol:

lTAhnQ5Y8xw&feature=player_embedded


Q&A: Egypt's constitutional referendum

Egyptians vote on Saturday in a referendum on changes to the constitution that would pave the way for new parliamentary and presidential elections within six months.

Following the uprising that forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down in February, the referendum is being seen as a major test for Egypt's transition to democracy after 30 years of authoritarian rule. But critics are pushing for a "no" vote, arguing a more radical rethink is needed and that the ruling military council is rushing the process.

What is the referendum about?

Egypt's military council suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament last month, meeting demands made by the opposition movement that ousted Mr Mubarak.

The Egyptian constitution had been written with built-in guarantees to keep Mr Mubarak and his political party in power. A committee of judicial experts was appointed to recommend the changes needed to ensure free and fair elections in the future.

Voters are now being asked whether they approve of the changes.

What is being proposed?

Under the proposed amendments to the constitution, the future president would only be allowed to serve two four-year terms, instead of unlimited six-year periods. He or she would also be obliged to appoint a deputy, something Mr Mubarak avoided until his last days in office.

Other amendments would make it easier for individuals to qualify to run as a presidential candidate and re-instate judicial supervision for elections. It would also be more difficult for any leader to maintain the state of emergency.

However the scholars that drafted the changes decided to put off steps limiting presidential powers until after the elections. They suggested the next parliament should form a committee to rewrite the constitution entirely.

Why is the referendum proving controversial?

While Egypt's political opposition has long demanded constitutional reforms, many leading figures complain these changes were drawn up in haste and do not go far enough. The amendments were drafted in just 10 days and offered to the public for discussion for only three weeks.

Young activists who led the 18 days of popular protests have called for a "no" vote in the referendum and are planning new demonstrations on Friday.

Potential presidential candidates including Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, and former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei want a new constitution to be drawn up from scratch before any elections are held.

Meanwhile, the two largest political forces in the country - the former ruling National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood - are encouraging members to vote in favour of the amendments, warning of the dangers of a legislative vacuum.

They are most likely to benefit from early elections as dozens of smaller parties set up following the uprising have yet to fully organise themselves.

What happens if there is a "no" vote?

If the proposed changes are rejected, the amended constitution will be scrapped and a new one drawn up from scratch. Security sources say this would delay the parliamentary and presidential elections to December and early 2012.

In the meantime, Egypt's military council would issue a constitutional decree as a temporary measure.

Analysts suggest the army is eager to keep its early time frame for elections, as it does not want to be tainted by perceived failure to solve the country's manifold problems.

Will this referendum be free and fair?

Whatever the outcome, the referendum could give Egyptians their first experience of a free vote in decades. Under Mr Mubarak's rule, elections were marred by vote-rigging and fraud.

Any Egyptian over the age of 18, holding a national identity card is eligible to vote: This gives a total electorate of about 40 million people.

Polling stations are expected to open between 0800 and 1900 local time. They will be secured by police and supervised by 16,000 members of the judiciary.

Civil society groups and the media have been invited to monitor proceedings.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12763313

Ahh tomorrow is the day guys, any early predictions?

Also is it one day only?

I think it's gonna be more of 50:50 though I fear majority vote yes.

I wish I could vote.

Judging by the internet polls, most people want to vote "No"

But that's just internet polls, it leaves out the masses of illiterates, and people with no internet access, who are vulnerable to the propaganda of the Muslim Brotherhood.

So it's a very scary situation.

Hoping for a No, and a brand new constitution.

http://www.lagna.idsc.gov.eg/images/banar3.jpg

2 websites which guide Egyptians to the nearest polling stations in their governorates, along with detailed explanation of the amendments, and other information for voters:

http://www.referendum.eg/

http://www.lagna.idsc.gov.eg/


Egyptians to vote on constitutional amendments

CAIRO: Egyptians are scheduled to go to the polls Saturday to vote yes or no on the constitutional amendments, in a step viewed by many as Egypt’s first true democratic experience.

"This is the first time in Egyptian history voters would be participating in a political process that is both credible and transparent," Mohamed Attia, head of the Supreme Judicial Commission overseeing the referendum, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Detailed official information on where and how Egyptians can vote quickly spread across the internet, to avoid any confusion or chaos during the voting process.

The commission supervising the referendum launched the website www.referendum.eg, and the Cabinet launched the website www.lagna.idsc.gov.eg, which guides Egyptians to the nearest polling stations in their governorates, along with detailed explanation of the amendments.

Human rights and civil society groups were also invited to monitor the referendum.

"The commission is committed to absolute transparency. We have nothing to hide," Attia said.

The Arab-European Center for Human Rights and International Law and The Egyptian Coalition for Monitoring Elections (ECME) said on Thursday that they were officially authorized to monitor the referendum.

Ihan Jav, the executive director of the Norway-based Arab-European Center, said that being allowed to monitor the referendum “represents an unprecedented change towards democracy in Egypt’s political arena.”

ECME said on its official website that they had designated 1,250 observers to monitor the voting in 26 governorates.

The ECME consists of 123 organizations including the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights and The Egyptian Center for Women’s rights.

A delegation including 14 members of the European Union was also scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Friday afternoon to monitor the referendum, according to online news portal, egynews.net.

The polling stations will be set up at schools and other public buildings in different districts around the country. The voting is scheduled to take place from 8 am to 7 pm in the announced locations.

The 45 million eligible voters need only a national identity card to cast their ballot and can do so in any polling station, even if it’s far from their place of residence as indicated on their ID.

Indelible ink will be used to prevent multiple voting.

Attia said in a phone interception with “Akher Kalam” program on ONTV channel on Thursday that the results of the referendum will “most probably” be announced late Sunday.

Atti called on the judges who weren’t listed to monitor the polling stations to head to the nearest preliminary court to request participation in the supervision of the voting, adding that it was every judge’s duty to participate in overseeing the polling process.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces suspended the constitution on Feb. 13 after it assumed power when former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down two days earlier following almost 30 years in power.

An appointed panel of legal experts drafted the proposed amendments in 10 days, as the military council strove to restore civilian rule as quickly as possible and keep the army above the political fray.

The amendments ease restrictions on independent presidential candidates, stipulating that candidates are eligible to run if they collect 30,000 signatures from at least 15 governorates in Egypt, with a minimum of 1,000 supporters in each, or if they are endorsed by 30 members of parliament, or if their party has at least one seat in parliament.

A president can only rule for a maximum of two four-year terms, according to the proposed amendments.

The amendments proposed to Article 75 set conditions for presidential candidates that include a minimum age of 40, stipulating that the nominee and his or her parents be Egyptian citizens who never had foreign citizenship. Potential nominees cannot be married to a non-Egyptian.

The president is committed to appointing one or more vice presidents within 60 days of taking office.

The military urged "yes" and "no" supporters alike to have their voices heard and turn out to vote.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the military council described the vote as "democratic Egypt's birth certificate".

"Accepting or rejecting the amendments is the right of each Egyptian. Cast your vote to preserve the gains of the January 25 Revolution," it said, referring to the launch date of the anti-Mubarak protests.

In a text message sent to mobile phone subscribers in the early hours of Friday, the armed forces said simply: "The referendum on the constitutional amendments = democracy." –Additional reporting by Marwa Al Aasar and AFP.

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/egyptians-to-vote-on-constitutional-amendments.html


Egypt to vote on constitutional amendments

Egypt's first fully free vote in decades Saturday is to decide whether to accept the ruling military council's proposed democratic reforms. The vote features a bloc of eight constitutional amendment

Reporting from Cairo—
Egyptians will head to the polls for their country's first fully free balloting in decades Saturday, charged with deciding whether to accept the ruling military council's proposed democratic reforms.

The vote features eight constitutional amendments designed to help the government's transition after a popular uprising that led to the resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak in February. The poll comes in advance of presidential and parliamentary elections also planned for this year.

The amendments, which must be voted on as a bloc, include a limit of two four-year terms for president. Elections would be held under judicial supervision, and the country's high court would decide disputed races. A vice president would have to be appointed within 60 days of a presidential election.

The amendments would also restrict the use of the emergency law that allows security forces to detain citizens without charge.

About 45 million Egyptian voters will be eligible to cast ballots on the amendments, and the government has dropped requirements for a special voting card and will allow citizens to vote at the polling place of their choosing to maximize turnout. The country has been without fully free elections since the 1950s.

The military council has not said what will happen if the country votes against the bloc of amendments and seems eager to see the referendum pass, hoping it will ease the quick transfer of power to an elected leader. The amendments also have the support of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has long been officially banned from Egyptian politics, and elements of Mubarak's former ruling party.

A vote in favor of the amendments would adjust the nation's 1971 constitution, not scrap it, and that reality has reunited many of the forces that gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square to now oppose the offered constitutional changes.

"Keeping Mubarak's constitution, even temporarily, is [an] insult to [the] revolution," Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent opposition figure who has emerged as a presidential candidate, said on Twitter.

The proposed amendments also would allow candidates from any political party to run, but they would have to be Egyptians without dual nationality, and without foreign parents or a foreign spouse.

Further constitutional revisions would be implemented by a council appointed by the future president and parliament, which has raised some concerns that future leaders might use the power to entrench themselves.

Other provisions limit the say of appointed members of parliament in the nomination of presidential candidates and the selection of those who will draft further revisions. The limitations have infuriated a coalition of women's groups that has issued a letter urging voters to oppose the amendments in Saturday's election. Most female members of parliament are appointed, not elected.

"We will definitely vote 'no,'" said Nevine Ebid, an administrator at a feminist organization. "Revolutions only happen every 50 or 100 years. We have no moment but now to make sure that women will have a fair playing field for the foreseeable future."

The all-male panel of jurists who drafted the amendments has been silent when asked whether the government would retain a quota for women in the parliament.

"I think it's a disgrace that right now, in the middle of a revolution, we managed to overthrow a despotic leader and exercise so much change, yet people are still backpedaling on behalf of women," said Riham Sheble, a prominent activist against female genital mutilation in Egypt.

Members of the panel that drafted the amendments have called them a first step as the country reshapes itself.

"The amendments will enable Egyptians to decide their own destiny," said Sobhi Saleh, a lawyer who worked on the referendum language.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-referendum-20110319,0,6843496.story

Masrawy.com made two polls about the referendum, results was 59/41 and 52/48.

Alarabiya.net's poll is still open, result so far is 59/41.

f0TrBzUC46g&feature=player_embedded

:lol:

:ohno:

Very good video instructing Egyptians on how to vote, their rights etc.

pPjpMSr0wug

Nice PR Campaign:

8NuqtlyHLnY&featu

Polls open in half an hour!

Seems everything is going smoothly so far. No thugs from Ahmed Ezz to attack anyone who does not vote in favour of the NDP. :D

ya from what I read that how it seems to be like, my friends told me they went and voted! I aint telling you guys what they picked :lol::lol:

BTW Somewhere in fb I read that from the old regime they get these workers/slaves to go and vote yes. is that any true?

6NTzsqgIBLk

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199706_143130092420547_132722870127936_293569_553529_n.jpg

:rofl::rofl: even borat said vote :lol::lol:

2KeX88NPT8wp

الله علي الشعب الجميل النهارده مصر ديمقراطيه مفيش بلطجيه انا روحت حطيت صوتي وكان هناك رجاله وستات كبار وصغيربن كلو جاي من اجل مصر

^^ :applause:

سيدة مسنة لم تمنعها اعاقتها من المشاركة في التصويت #Jan25 #Dostor2011 #Egypt

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198845_197071330324072_183109598386912_594645_8037231_n.jpg

:applause:

Some twitter updates,

راجل واخد البواب معاه..للتصويت#dostor2011

:lol::lol:

مش واخين بالكم من حاجه!!! اكتر من تلت الشعب في الشوارع بيصوت ولم يتم تسجيل حاله تحرش واحده #Dostor2011 !!!

:applause:


المستشار محمد عطية رئيس لجنة الاستفتاء: إعلان نتيجة الاستفتاء منتصف أو آخر نهار يوم الأحد #Egypt #Referendum #Dostor2011

:banana:

بابا اللى مش بيطيق يوقف 5 دقائق فى الشارع النهاردة وقف فى الطابور ساعة و نص عشان يقول لأ #Dostor2011 #Egypt

Who said that we're not ready for democracy?

Amr Mousa voting againt the amendments. :)

Wlawt5Gzx9M&feature=player_embedded

^^ Great video :D but she should of waited in the queue :yes:

رصد | الجزيرة توك || المنصورة || مجموعة من الأخوان امام لجنة المختلط و لجنة سندوب قاموا بأنشاء خيمة كبيرة كأستراحة و للترويج للتصويت ب نعم للتعديلات الدستورية

:lol::lol: someone is desperate :lol::lol:

البابا شنودة الثالث يدلى بصوته فى الاستفتاء للتعديلات الدستورية بشبرا

أدلى قداسة البابا شنودة بابا الاسكندرية وبطريرك الكرازة المرقسية بصوته فى الاستفتاء للتعديلات الدستورية امام دائرة مدرسة محمد فريد بشبرا.

وقد رافق البابا شنودة خلال ادلائه بصوته كبار رجال الكنيسة واعضاء السكرتارية الخاصة والمجمع المقدس للكنيسة القبطية.

وقد أعرب البابا شنودة عن خالص تمنياته لاستقرار مصر ونجاح التجربة الديمقراطية الجديدة بعد ثورة 25 يناير ..مؤكدا ثقته فى القوات المسلحةالمصرية لادارتها شئون البلاد.

http://dostor.org/society-and-people/variety/11/march/19/38448

Why did he not vote in alexandria :bash:

on ONTV they said just said amr musa stood in the queue :banana: I'm happy now :D

High turnout in Egyptian constitutional poll
Voters to decide on a package of constitutional reforms in the first election since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.
Millions of Egyptians have turned out for today's constitutional referendum, the first vote following the overthrow last month of Hosni Mubarak, the country's long-serving president.

Voters are deciding on a package of nine amendments, about half of which deal with the conduct of elections. One would make it easier for independent candidates to run for president; another would re-establish judicial oversight of elections.

The amendments were drafted by an eight-man constitutional committee, which was appointed by the ruling military junta. They must be approved or rejected as a bloc.

There were early reports of high turnout, with voters in some districts predicting an hours-long wait before they would be able to cast their ballots.

"This is an historic day for Egypt," said Yahya al-Gamal, the country's prime minister, after casting his vote in Cairo. "I have never seen such large numbers of voters in Egypt. Finally, the people of Egypt have come to realise that their vote counts."

Voters also reported some irregularities: Some polling centres in Giza, Mohandiseen, 6th of October City and other districts were reportedly handing out ballots without the required official stamp. Ballots without a stamp on the back can be discarded as illegitimate.

An uncertain outcome

Most of the amendments have been longtime demands of the Egyptian opposition - but most of the country's opposition parties are urging voters to reject them. Critics want a completely new constitution; they say these modest changes do not do enough to limit the powers of the president.

Amr Moussa, the outgoing Arab League chief and a front-runner for Egypt's forthcoming presidential election, has urged a "no" vote; so has former IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei.

The youth activists that drove Egypt's revolution have also decided to oppose the amendments: The Revolution Youth Council held an internal vote earlier this week and, while it decided to participate in the referendum, it urged people to vote "no."

"Most of the people who triggered the revolution are going to say no," ElBaradei said.

The highest-profile support has come from the Muslim Brotherhood, which has plastered many Cairo neighbourhoods with posters urging voters to approve the amendments.

Supporters say a "yes" vote will hasten a return to civilian rule: If the amendments are approved, Egypt is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in June, and a presidential election in September. If the amendments are defeated, the parliamentary election could be postponed until December while a committee works on revising the constitution.

Polls suggest the outcome of the vote will be close. One survey earlier this week found that 60 per cent of eligible voters planned to vote "no."

About 45 million people are eligible to vote. They will do so using their national ID cards, a key change from Mubarak-era elections, when voters were required to pre-register for elections - a process often subject to fraud and intimidation.

Polls will close at 7pm local time [17:00 GMT], though some polling centres in southern Egypt will remain open until 9pm.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/20113196242356485.html

"Most of the people who triggered the revolution are going to say no," ElBaradei said.



http://dostour2011.com/

http://media.almasryalyoum.me/sites/default/files/imagecache/photo-watermarking/photo/2011/03/19/228/_mg_0437.jpg.crop_display.jpg

ElBaradei to vote in Egypt’s constitutional referendum
ElBaradei, former head of the IAEA and presidential hopeful is flying back from India to vote on the historic constitutional amendment
Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the IAEA will arrive in Cairo this afternoon to vote on a historic constitutional referendum.

ElBaradei, who is travelling from India, has been urging Egyptians to vote “No” in rejection of the ‎constitutional amendments.‎ He is ‎expected to cast his vote in El Shaimaa School in Mokattam. ‎
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/8043/Egypt/Politics-/ElBaradei-to-vote-in-Egypt’s-constitutional-refere.aspx


the hell is he doing in india :sly:

Live Update: Egypt constitutional referendum (http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/8023/Egypt/Politics-/Live-Update-Egypt-constitutional-referendum-.aspx)

Seems some NDP members haven't completely changed their tactics just yet...

Egypt crowd attack ElBaradei at voting station

A crowd of people blocked Mohamed ElBaradei from entering a polling station in Cairo on Saturday to cast a vote in Egypt's constitutional referendum, shoving him and smashing his car window with rocks as he left.



"We don't want you, we don't want you," a crowd of youths chanted at ElBaradei, who has said he wants to run for president. He was shoved after joining a queue of people seeking to vote. He then went back to his car and stones were hurled.

Or maybe its the Islamists...

Hundreds of Islamists stone Egypt's ElBaradei


CAIRO, March 19, 2011 (AFP) - Hundreds of Islamists hurled stones at secular opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei as he went to cast his ballot in a referendum in Egypt’s capital on Saturday, an AFP reporter said.

"We don’t want you," they shouted, forcing the former UN nuclear watchdog chief to retreat to his car and leave, but not before being hit by at least one stone in the back and drenched with water.

ElBaradei is widely respected on the world stage for his work as an international diplomat, but under the ousted regime of Hosni Mubarak, he came under repeated criticism for his frequent trips abroad.

He was also accused of being out of touch with the reality of Egyptian life.

ElBaradei went to vote in Saturday’s referendum on constitutional reform after returning from a speaking engagement in New Delhi sponsored by a leading Indian English-language newspaper.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Egyptian+crowd+attack+ElBaradei+voting+station/4471294/story.html#ixzz1H3k090NE

One hour left :D

Seems some NDP members haven't completely changed their tactics just yet...

Egypt crowd attack ElBaradei at voting station



Or maybe its the Islamists...

Hundreds of Islamists stone Egypt's ElBaradei

:mad:

Shoof ba2a il ikhwan il 7ayawanat beya3milo eh?? :bleep:

This is the PEAK of uncivilization. It's a democratic, free and peaceful vote. Your suppoesd to support your ideology through the power of the vote, and NOT by stoning rival opposition :bash:

7ayawant fa3lan. Gosh, I'm so angry. Who are those animals to stone a civilized, and respectable man like EL Baradei who's peacefully exercising his right as a citizen? I REALLY REALLY hope El Baradei went to another station and voted. And that someone arrests the animals that did this. :rant:

Also, look what the savages are doing:

Religious propaganda spreads at polling stations

Amid a large presence of campaigners affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, thousands of voters streamed to the polls Saturday in Giza to vote on proposed amendments to the 1971 Constitution, marking rare fair elections in Egypt’s political history.

The Brotherhood, according to eyewitnesses, called for imams to speak in front of the polling stations about the benefits of voting “yes”.

“I saw two imams arguing with people, citing religious quotes that support the Brotherhood views concerning the constitutional amendments,” said Fathi Salem, shop owner in the poor working class district of Moneeb.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which was banned under Mubarak, along with the former ruling National Democratic Party are the main backers of the amendments, which are rejected by other opposition forces, such as the presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei, who are calling for a new constitution.

“We haven’t recruited anybody. We’ve just called the people to come and tell their opinion first and what we are doing now is to discuss with people about the benefits of saying yes,” argued Hani Said, a lawyer affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The return of full judicial supervisors, having presidents with limited terms, the limitations of State of Emergency and respect of the Court rulings,” read some of the pros written in a statement signed by the Muslim Brotherhood and distributed by Said and his colleagues.

Many people in the working class district of Sakiet Makey said that they voted in favor of the proposed amendments.

“It is because people want security and stability in the society. They also want a fair parliament to be elected in order to represent them,” argued Said who was speaking at the polling station at Ahmed Shawki School under an MB banner reading “Vote yes to obtain stability and end the chaos.”

Sakiet Makey is a poor area represented by both Mohamed Abou al-Enein, a prominent member of Mubarak's NDP party and a business tycoon, and Hamdy Temaa, another NDP figure.

“They are all gone. A few months ago [during November parliamentary elections] this area was overwhelmed by Abou al-Enein and his NDP fake supporters. But now there are only real Egyptians who care about the future of their country,” said Mansour Abu al-Hassan, a plumber and Brotherhood supporter from Sakiet Makey.

Abou al-Enein is being investigated on allegations of misconduct and corruption.

He was accused by activists of being one of the masterminds behind the infamous the “Battle of the Camels" on 2 February when Mubarak supporters stormed Tahrir Square, attacking protesters.

“Nothing is left for the NDP in Giza except shame. They are absent because they cannot show up in front of the people. The Egyptian people are the winners and the blood of our martyrs is not going to be in vain,” said Abu Al-Hassan.

Amged Mourice, a Coptic student who came along with members of his family to vote said that “The MB ridiculed the revolution in the beginning and now they are coming to benefit from it.”

He added, “I’m going to say ‘no’ because we deserve a new constitution that guarantees the civility of the state.”

Scores of Copts and women stood in long queues, saying that there has been no harassment or intimidation by police forces, however, they complained about the slowness of the referendum process.

"I have been standing in this line for almost half an hour and it seems that I’m going to wait for another half hour, but I’m happy for this country. We are making a difference,” said Hanan Alfy, a teacher who was waiting at the polling station at Saad Zaghloul School in Giza.

Women and men stood in separate queues in order to facilitate the voting process and to make the conditions safer for women, said Ahmed Motassem, a government employee responsible for the polling station at Moneeb Preparatory School.

A campaigner affiliated with the MB said that they are standing in front of the school doors determined to prevent any irregularities that might happen during the vote.

“I’m not speaking because I’m a Muslim Brotherhood member. I’m speaking because I’m Egyptian and I’m going to help the military forces in having fair and peaceful elections,” said student Mohamed Younis.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/364534

:bleep:

Apart from that incident above.

Everything has been going great!!! Our first taste of democracy has tasted very well :cheers:

Even Prime Minister Essam Sharaf waited in line with the rest of the voters, and refused to cut the line and be fast forwarded.

Voters are coming out in unprecedented numbers, a very high turnout, the first in Egyptian history. The process has been clean, smooth, transparent and extremely organized.

This is amazing!


Referendum polling extended till 9 pm amid high turnout, judges on alert

CAIRO: The Supreme Judicial Commission overseeing voting on a public referendum on constitutional amendments announced that polling time will be extended for one hour till 9 pm and demanded that more judges stay on alert as voters turned out in huge numbers at polling stations all over Egypt.

Hundreds of thousands queued in front of polling stations since the early hours of the morning on Saturday to cast their votes on proposed constitutional amendments.

Additional judges were sent to Upper Egypt in military airplanes to respond to high voter turnout.

The Commission also announced that unstamped ballots are authorized as long as a judge is present at the polling station.

Numerous reports have indicated that the voting process was smooth in polling stations in Cairo under complete judicial supervision.

Volunteers were seen assisting police and army officers in guiding voters into polling stations.

However banners calling on voters to refuse the amendments, although banned, were seen outside the Talaat Harb polling station, while others encouraging citizens to say yes were also seen in the Haram area.

Voters were split between accepting or refusing the proposed amendments to articles of Egypt’s constitution, which has been in place since 1971.

"I will vote no because by accepting these amendments, we will have to undergo eight elections which will be very costly to our already struggling economy," said Mohamed Badawy, referring to upper and lower house of parliament and presidential elections which are likely to be repeated when a new constitution is drafted according to stipulation in the proposed amendments.

"If we carry legislative elections [in six months], the result will be an unrepresentative parliament," added Badawy who says he participated in all referenda in Egypt since 1998 and voted no to all of them.

Ahmed Anwar voted yes saying that this will restore stability to the country.

"The anticipated scenario if we accept the constitutional amendments ensures that stability will be restored once more," Anwar said.

Salah Ali, head of the Communist Party voted no at one of Abdeen's polling stations and hailed the high turnout and the transparency of the voting process.

"We shall respect the results in all cases but accepting the amendments will lead to countless political confrontations in the legislative elections," Ali said.

Voters hailed the high turnout and said that whatever the results will be, they shall be accepted.

The elderly were given priority in casting their votes while voters using a photocopy of their ID or passports were denied voting.

Long lines were seen in the upscale areas of Zamalek and Maadi. One citizen reported that he and three others were refused exit from one polling station when it ran out of phosphoric ink. They were only released after the ink was brought in and they doused their finger in it to avoid multiple votes.

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/referendum-polling-extended-till-9-pm-amid-high-turnout-judges-on-alert.html

Update on Egypt’s Referendum

CAIRO: Polling stations in Egypt opened at 8am Saturday for the referendum on proposed constitutional amendments. Since then, ques outside polling stations across Cairo have continued to grow as Egyptians go out to cast their votes.

Extremely long lines have been reported in Zamalek, Heliopolis, and Maadi, among other places, with some people waiting hours to cast their vote. Despite the long lines, many Egyptians are willing to wait. Reports from Cairo indicate polling stations are orderly and calm, unprecedented for a vote in Egypt. Those over the age of 60 are permitted to skip to the front of the line to cast their vote, and in many areas the women’s lines are longer than men’s.

Cairo’s governor, Abdel Azim Wazeer, was kicked out of a polling station by voters for not waiting his turn. In contrast, Twitter was buzzing this morning over Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s refusal to cut in line. Instead, the Prime Minister who once told demonstrators he would be on the streets with the people if he could not achieve their goals waited in line with the people for his turn to cast his ballot.

Social media is once more an important tool for Egyptian activists. They use networks such as Twitter to discuss their experiences, keep up to date on where to find the shortest lines, and to report possible irregularities in the vote.

One of the first issues to be raised Saturday morning dealt with the official stamps which should be on each ballot. Some ballots did not have the official stamp, and voters worried those ballots would not be counted. However, the Supreme Judicial Committee in charge of supervising the referendum guaranteed the validity of the unstamped ballots so long as the supervising judge’s signature is present, according to a statement on the committee’s Facebook page.

Egypt has a long history of rigged elections, and today’s referendum is considered by many Egyptians to be their first opportunity to cast a ballot that will actually be counted. Young people are taking pictures of their inked fingers to post on their Facebook profiles and share with their friends, proud to have voted today.

http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=30826

:cheers:

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf casts his vote on a referendum on constitutional amendments at a polling station in Dokki Cairo, Egypt:


http://thedailynewsegypt.com/images/stories/2011/March_2011/03_March19_2011/esam2.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03iBaCHgwZ5cu/x610.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05AQ4F79Ji2am/610x.jpg


Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League and presidential hopeful, casts his vote in Kasr El Dobbara, Downtown Cairo:

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/images/stories/2011/March_2011/03_March19_2011/mosa2.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0e6cfvbgUigME/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05XqgIW0ml340/610x.jpg

Egypt's Pope Shenouda casts his vote in Shubra, Cairo:

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/images/stories/2011/March_2011/03_March19_2011/pop1.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0etW6HffFW4Qa/610x.jpg


Egyptian Muslim brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, enters a polling station to cast his vote in Cairo

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01Sr604abPfAv/x610.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eud77EcYHcdq/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02mr929byi7ja/610x.jpg


Other Citizens voting:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eViaCdftleYM/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01m2fJde1ubF8/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/051g8956guav0/x610.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/092403W5Y62OQ/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09RK5oU7hz7ZS/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05Fk6sz3i01HR/x610.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/051g8956guav0/x610.jpg


Love this picture :D

رصد |الاسكندرية |بدء عمليات الفرز فى بعض اللجان بالاسكندرية


yay! :banana:

If any of you have Al Safwa channel, open it now, my Uncle is hosting a special episode about the Referendum. He was out on the street interviewing voters, adn reporting from many poll stations. He will also be interviewing key figures involved in the process now.

Everyone is so happy and proud, and the process is so smooth. Parents bringing their young children with flags on their cheeks, everyone smiling, volunteers giving out free water bottles etc.

Very proud moment :)

hmm sadly I don't have that.

BTW my friend from Egypt text'd me and said to me first box, 113 Yes and 430 No. not a good start huh :ohno:

If any of you have Al Safwa channel, open it now, my Uncle is hosting a special episode about the Referendum. He was out on the street interviewing voters, adn reporting from many poll stations. He will also be interviewing key figures involved in the process now.

Everyone is so happy and proud, and the process is so smooth. Parents bringing their young children with flags on their cheeks, everyone smiling, volunteers giving out free water bottles etc.

Very proud moment :)

Just turned to that channel right now. Great show btw. :)

As for the referendum, I think it is undoubtedly a defining moment in the history of Egypt. The turnout could very much exceed 50%. Just compare the numbers to the 2005 referendum which witnessed a 7% turnout! :nuts: People have hope and they know they are playing a key role in rebuilding Egypt and building a strong, healthy Egyptian democracy.

There were mistakes, and there are improvements and lessons we can learn to organize a better vote next time around. But I also understand that NO ONE expected such a high turnout, thus since this is our first true democratic vote, I do not believe the few mistakes will render this day as a failure in anyway.

Again, we should all be very proud and happy of what Egyptians have achieved no matter the result. If the majority votes for the changes, then we must respect the result, and the more liberal political parties must work to counter any move by the Brotherhood. It is their time, and they can not use their usual excuses during Mubarak's era.

hmm sadly I don't have that.

BTW my friend from Egypt text'd me and said to me first box, 113 Yes and 430 No. not a good start huh :ohno:

The majority voted against the amendments in that box? Or is it the other way around?

If so, then good start!

noo 113 voted YES WE ARE WITH THE AMENDMENTS and 430 votes nope we're against it.

ohh my bad, 3nya za3'lelet. I though that's 1130 not 113 ya majority said NO!

Okay, makes more sense now. It seems the majority so far have voted for the changes.

Also, ElMasry AlYoum has reported that the army will issue a constitutional declaration in the coming hours, following the release of the complete results.

in the next few ours they will release the results :sly: there are simply alooot, I doubt if we going to have the final thing before tomorrow.

RNN NEWS:

kalyoubya

Box1: TA= 420 Y= 300 N= 119 S= 1
Box2: TA= 1,200 Y= 1,000 N= 200
Box3: TA= 2415 Y= 2131 N= 284
Box4: TA= 2359 Y= 2242 N= 117

TA= Total Attendee, Y= Voted Yes, N= Voted No, S= suspended votes.


no good guys :ohno:

Following the same codes,

From RNN News,

6 october city

TA 6640
Y 5807
N 533
S 15

Damn the MB and their fucking propaganda!!!

Just turned to that channel right now. Great show btw. :)

As for the referendum, I think it is undoubtedly a defining moment in the history of Egypt. The turnout could very much exceed 50%. Just compare the numbers to the 2005 referendum which witnessed a 7% turnout! :nuts: People have hope and they know they are playing a key role in rebuilding Egypt and building a strong, healthy Egyptian democracy.

There were mistakes, and there are improvements and lessons we can learn to organize a better vote next time around. But I also understand that NO ONE expected such a high turnout, thus since this is our first true democratic vote, I do not believe the few mistakes will render this day as a failure in anyway.

Again, we should all be very proud and happy of what Egyptians have achieved no matter the result. If the majority votes for the changes, then we must respect the result, and the more liberal political parties must work to counter any move by the Brotherhood. It is their time, and they can not use their usual excuses during Mubarak's era.

+1

RNN NEWS:

kalyoubya

Box1: TA= 420 Y= 300 N= 119 S= 1
Box2: TA= 1,200 Y= 1,000 N= 200
Box3: TA= 2415 Y= 2131 N= 284
Box4: TA= 2359 Y= 2242 N= 117

TA= Total Attendee, Y= Voted Yes, N= Voted No, S= suspended votes.


no good guys :ohno:

Following the same codes,

From RNN News,

6 october city

TA 6640
Y 5807
N 533
S 15

:ohno:

I had the impression the majority were voting NO.




Damn the MB and their fucking propaganda!!!

+1

They shouldn't have been allowed to use religious propaganda :mad:

Other pages are reporting the following:

65% NO
35% YES

I think its best to wait for the final, official results.

I hope you're right Masri, I can't explain how mad I am right now.

More of al qalyobya,

TA 1779
Y 1548
N 227
S 4

Banha

Box1

TA 1529
Y 982
N 528
S 12

Box2

TA 1485
Y 1241
N 244

More 6 october from RNN News, btw last one was not from RNN

TA 1125
Y 1052
N 67
S 6

Other pages are reporting the following:

65% NO
35% YES

I think its best to wait for the final, official results.

You're right. The results Abdoo posted are just 2 electoral districts, there are still hundreds more across the country. The results so far aren't an indicator of a possible outcome.


High female turnout in Nasr City

“Wow, look at all those women!”

When comments of this type are heard on the streets of Cairo, it’s usually — and unfortunately — only as a brief prologue to some more blatant form of sexual harassment.

This was not the case on Saturday morning, when Mohamed Safty, 49, let out a low whistle and nudged his friend and neighbor, Ibrahim Shafik, in order to direct his attention to the long line of women forming at the gates of Amir al-Shoa’ra public school in Nasr City.

Like Safty, Shafik and the hundreds of other men crowding the sidewalk since the early morning hours, the women had gathered at the school in order to vote on the suggested amendments to the national constitution.

“I didn’t expect so many of them to show up,” Safty, clearly impressed, confesses to his friend. “But, by God, it’s a beautiful sight.”

“Just remember,” Shafik adds with a smile, “These are the type of women that say ‘no’.”

The joke — referring to the fact that most voters, male and female, seemed to be in favor of rejecting the proposed amendments — may have cracked the old neighbors up, but the reality of the situation is that, as individuals, Egyptians feel that, for the first time ever, their voices might actually count. As a result, Saturday’s turnout at Nasr City polling stations — the majority of which were located on the campuses of different public schools — was in no way limited to eligible voters.

“It’s crucial not to let this opportunity pass us by,” says Salwa Abdallah, who showed up at the Nasr City Secondary School (formerly Mubarak Secondary School) with her three daughters, the oldest of whom had just turned six. “We’ve been calling for, and demanding, our rights for our whole lives. It would be shameful not to embrace the opportunity now that we’ve been given it.”

Like many other enthusiastic voters, Abdallah brought her children with her so that they could witness “the birth of democracy.” Standing in the shade of a nearby tree, Adel Goweid also gives the same reason for bringing his 11-month-old daughter Hana to the referendum voting center. “My wife is inside, voting,” Goweid, gently rocking his sleeping daughter, nods towards the school. He explains that he offered to look after the child while his wife went in to vote first, partially because he wanted to “enjoy the atmosphere out here.”

“Look at those faces,” he says, gesturing to the long line of men a few feet away. “Everyone’s in a good mood, everyone’s optimistic. A few weeks ago, looking at these people, you wouldn’t recognize them as Egyptians.”

“I’m 50 years old, and I’ve never voted for anything in my life,” muses Hatem Mansour shortly after arriving at Rafi’aa al-Tahtawy Public School with his wife, four children and their spouses. “It’s strange, at this age, to be dealing with democracy for the first time.”

“I’m almost ashamed of the ballot box. I’ve never seen it before and on our first encounter, I have to say ‘no’.” says the 43-year-old engineer Taher Abou Kalam — another joke relating to the perceived public opinion on the amendments.

Perhaps more surprising than the overall positive mood, was the fact that it managed to survive despite the long lines, narrow public school hallways and scorching sun. Egypt is a nation (hopefully formerly) known for its infuriating bureaucracy, with official proceedings typically moving at a sluggish and usually unrewarding pace. Things, however, could not have been more different in Nasr City’s voting stations. The lines seemed to move briskly enough, in spite of the fact that many of them extended for several blocks (12, in the case of the Worker’s University polling station). Voters left the building in high spirits, eager to show off a bright pink finger covered in indelible ink to prevent double-voting.

“Before the revolution, standing in line for something like this would’ve been an absolute waste of time,” says chauffeur Karim Badr, 28, as he tries to claw the hot pink off his thumb. “The entire population could’ve stayed in bed for an election, and the National Democratic Party would have still announced a landslide victory. Now that’s all over. The people want something better and they themselves want to be better.”

“This is the first time that I’ve ever stood in line in this country without having someone try to cut ahead, or a fight breaking out,” Badr, wrapping his thumb in tissue and doing his best to ignore it, says with a smile.

“I was worried fights would break out, that things might turn violent,” admits 22-year-old Fady Selim, who had been standing in line for the past hour with his three friends. “I was also worried because people were talking about members of the Muslim Brotherhood showing up, to try to convince us to vote ‘yes’ on the amendments and that things might heat up then, but so far it’s all been great.”

True to Selim’s words, the vibe at most Nasr City voting centers seemed to be overwhelmingly positive, as even those with differing points of view chose to calmly discuss them rather than resort to anger, or violence.

Or, as Mohamed Safty puts it: “For once, opinions are divided over something other than Ahly and Zamalek — and as a lifelong soccer fan I can tell you, this is a beautiful thing.”

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/365023

A middle-class neighborhood votes 'no'

“I’m here to build a new country for my children,” said Yasser Saleh, pointing to his young son standing next to him in line for today’s referendum on constitutional amendments. “I want a clean break with the past so the next generation can grow up in a new Egypt.”

The feeling is shared by many residents in Manial, who have gathered outside the Ali al-Jarem Primary School to cast their votes. In the long queues outside the polling station, conversations are dominated by one overriding feeling: Today’s referendum is a historic occasion, the first free election to take place in Egypt.

The turnout is diverse—young and old, men and women, Muslims and Copts—and most people have never participated in an election before. For many, the proposed amendments to the constitution are unsatisfactory.

Saleh, an employee at a local car assembly plant, explains that, more than anything, Egypt needs a decisive break with the previous regime—including its ruling party and constitution—in order to build a better future.

“I’m voting ‘no’ because I want the people to decide what their new constitution will look like, not a parliament that may include remnants of the former ruling party," he said.

The sentiment is echoed by many voters queued up behind him, who wave their fingers at bystanders, signaling that they should reject the amendments as well. The line has grown throughout the day as many people leave their day jobs to come vote.

“This is a beautiful sight, our voices are finally worth something,” said another first-time voter who has been waiting for over an hour to cast his ballot. “I left work to express my opposition to the amendments. I didn’t even know a school existed here, that’s how alienated I felt from previous elections.”

He explains that local residents have been convening for the past few nights—in coffee shops and in front of their buildings—to debate the merits and dangers of the proposed amendments. “My friends and I have been deliberating this matter for days. We are voting ‘no’ after careful evaluation of the arguments for both sides.”

A similar mood has prevailed across Cairo, where crowds have been gathering publicly to argue for or against the amendments. Egyptians with no previous interest in politics have felt deeply invested in a vote where the stakes matter and the outcome can be affected by popular pressure.

Manial is an old middle-class neighborhood with a historically low voter turnout. The Muslim Brotherhood headquarters, on the south side of the district, stands as one of the neighborhood’s few symbols of political activism.

Across the street, a local fish shop hoists a large banner reading “The Muslim Brotherhood votes ‘Yes’.” A cook at the shop said the banner was given to him by a member of the group and he raised it in support. Asked why, the young man expresses fears that further political instability may push the country into a permanent state of chaos.

“I don’t want Egypt to move backwards. I want to get on with my normal life and restore a sense of security.” He paused for a moment, with a look of confusion and said: “I will vote for whatever side will move this country forward, away from the current state of disorder.”

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/364723

Downtown voters counter Islamist mobilization campaigns

Hundreds of early risers and political novices gathered in front of polling stations this morning to vote on the constitutional amendments, the long queues and the blazing sun were a fertile ground for heated conversations and political debates.

The Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists’ campaigns encouraging people to vote yes, sometimes using material incentives, occupied most voters’ conversations.

“We won’t revive the dead, said Maha Badrawy, a middle-aged woman in Sheikh Rihan polling station, downtown. According to Badrawy the old constitution became obsolete with the falling of the old regime and Former President Hosni Mubarak.

Many stated that voting ‘yes’ would give way to the residues of the old regime to regain power and allow the Muslim brotherhood to establish itself as a dominating party in the parliament, which is frowned upon by many. This is particularly the case because a yes vote will lead to early elections for which the Muslim Brotherhood are believed to be the readiest for the contest.

“The Muslim Brotherhood have already started their deceiving campaign urging the unprivileged and the uneducated to vote for the amendments, stating that ‘yes’ is a religious duty,” concludes Badrawy.

In the last parliamentary elections, people of Abdin voted for the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Gamal Hanafy only to eradicate the opposing NDP candidate, states Emad Abou Zahra, a voter at the Abdeen polling station. “This time I am voting solely for the best interest of my country,” adds Abou Zahra.

“The old cunning ways of the past will not work this time, “says Salwa, a voter standing in the Queue of Ibrahimiya School in Garden City. The MB deceiving banners and free meals convinced me in addition to a large number of my friends to vote No. According to the young woman the MB does not represent the educated segment of our society. “But unfortunately, they will get through to the less privileged and the poor,” concludes Salwa.

Hala Mustafa, chief editor of Al-Ahram’s Democracy Journal, it was important to put a halt on such campaigns so that they don’t affect voters’ opinions.

"I think that the SCAF should have issued a warning against any political party or force to mobilize people on the streets using any form of incentives, just like it prevented the media from publishing any opinion on the referendum ahead of the voting.”

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/364623

The sources from where I got those said those are not official those are only been reported by there reporters around egypt.

Then stop scaring me Abdo :(

Guys, I say we wait completely till official results.

What I should not post anything :cry:


Btw did any of you still like me? I still don't believe that the regime is dowwwwwn. Am I dreaming? If so please don't wake me :D

Army on facebook said they are getting ready to receive the results.

607c2ffB_Ho

7aga wiskha awy :ohno:

El nas il watya di lazem tit7ibis.

These goes against all the values of the revolution. Hopefully this small savage group is held accountable.

Very embarrassing and shameful to Egyptians, and very sad.

When will we know the results?

d_eoqQiC5tk&feature=channel_video_title

Tomorrow night at max. Maybe late today or tomorrow morning if early.

Tomorrow result might be in favor for the constitution which isn't bad afterall.

The results have been completed nationwide, and will be announced at 8.00 PM Cairo time.

Source: ElMasryElYoum, Youm7, etc. Egyptian online news websites. :)

Results will be annouced tonight. 7PM Cairo time and 5PM GMT

My source is Egyptian state TV just 15mins ago they said so.

I checked there facebook page and they said 7 ;)

Egyptian National TV live!

http://25january.tv/?page_id=1060

According to Abdoo, results will come out in 5 mins. Watch now!

I've been watching. :D

And Abdo was right, its 7, not 8. A minute to go!

I keep getting interrupted everytime I watch. :/

Soo according to Abdo it should have come out 8 mins ago, but it hasnt :?

The only thing that's been playing on National TV for the past 20 minutes was a continuous loop of extremely patriotic songs and videos.

According to RNN (Rasd) on Facebook, the press conference has already begun, however, the results have not been announced yet.

Hmm where can we watch it then?


Right groups: Over 80% voter turnout in Saturday referendum

According to provisional figures, an average voter turnout of 80 to 88 percent was recorded at Saturday’s referendum on constitutional amendments, said Egyptian rights organizations on Sunday.

In a joint report, Observers Without Borders, the Human Rights Defenders Network and the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Freedom and Justice said the turnout on Saturday was the highest true voter turnout recorded in Egypt during the past 60 years.

The report says that this turnout is the most significant gain achieved so far in the country’s transition to democracy, and one which will help increase Egyptians' interest in voting in upcoming elections. It says that this level of engagement will enable the Constitution's declaration that authority is in the hands of the people to become a reality.

The report also said that provisional figures indicate a difference of 10 percent between those who voted "yes" and those who voted "no" and that polling stations in cities will possibly witness a slightly higher percentage of supporting votes.

According to the report, over 60 percent of voters at polling stations in the Nile Delta, Upper Egypt and border governorates voted "yes" and therefore the total votes in favour of passing the amendments is expected to reach nearly 65 percent.

News reports said the ballot counting has ended in most polling stations and provisional figures showed that those supporting the constitutional amendments will be the majority.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/366558

Under Mubarak, voter turnout was 7% !

Its on Al Jazeera Mubasher Masr. A new channel exclusively for Egyptian politics. Can't seem to find it online.

That is a victory no matter what the outcome is.

Lool same I was watching tv and they blanked me :( that stupid program called wesal. Btw that was the program when they came to london and they recorded me.



Wait wait it's on nowww watch!!!

Its on Egyptian National TV right now!

ITS LIVE http://25january.tv/?page_id=1060

Bad news 14million said yes and 4 million said no :(

YES 14 Million
NO 4 Million

Turnout: 41%

77.2% said yes and 22.8% said no :ohno:

WTF only 10 reported problems wooow

**** the MB and their ******* propaganda, they deserve to be ******* banned.

:ohno:

Guys, we are talking about 20 million Egyptians who voted. I'm sure not all 20 million were subjected to MB propaganda. Many other political parties supported the changes.

Yes, the Brotherhood played an illegitmate role (using religion to exploit the uneducated and make them vote for the changes), but this isn't a 7 or 10% turnout. 14 million people were certainly not manuiplated by the Brotherhood.

Now we must wait for the army's constiutional declaration. The 1971 constiution might not be revived if the army only uses the 8 articles as part of a wider declaration.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/199043_122752637801854_103622369714881_128711_7905496_n.jpg

Maybe not but I'm that if it wasn't for them the result would've been different.

Lol relax man, let's just watch what's going to happen now and respect the final decision.

Either way we won't get mubarak back. We are wining wither we choose yes or no. But looks like the majority choose the method of yes.

:banana2: :righton: :baeh3:

No but we might get a conservative fuck that will ruin everything the people did.

:banana2: :righton: :baeh3:

I hope your proud of your Muslim Brotherhood propaganda :ohno:

Great discussion on AL Jazeera English about the referendum:

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

I hope we are not reviving the old constitution. Yesterday on masr el naharda a lawyer said I hope it's going to be only the articles they announced but the fact they're called article 75, ... ect. Make it worrying but if it was article 1, 2, 3, ect...

What ever is going to happen nezt wither it's good or bad it's blamed at those who voted yes so don't worry guys.

The Government should have prevented the Muslim brotherhood from using religion, and the mosques to promote a "Yes" vote.

Here you have a large uneducated, poor population, experiencing democracy for the first time being swayed by religious propaganda to affect their voting decision.

Yesterday I saw an 80 year old woman being interviewed, and they asked her why she voted Yes, she was like "3ashan el Islam" Sit 7omara wallahi :doh:

I feel like the victim of the idiocy of myfellow citizens.

The yes vote was presented as a vote for stability. That is why it won, & that is why the referendum shouldn't have been held now.

And I feel even more disappointed by the 60% who didn't turn out.

That is a victory no matter what the outcome is.

Who said this? Stand for your words man.

Stoppp giving the MB much attention you're only doing good for them.

Let me put it that way. If just b/c the MB said vote yes everyone voted yes then if the MB said vote for el baradei and everyone did then what would of been your reaction? You wouldn't even mention them when the final results is announced.

It's kind of blinded to say the MB said vote yes and ignoring the fact that at churches they said vote no. It's equally equal just accept the freaking results talking too much about it now won't do us any good we can't go back now. We can only accept and learn from our mistakes also working on what's next. The army didn't announce anything yet let wait and hear 'em.

Who said this? Stand for your words man.

I didn't say I wasn't going to be pissed off. Oh well... This means El Baradei and those guys will have to work harder.

I hurt myself after bashing my hand at the wall. :cry:

Even if ''no'' won.... MB have the right to be a ruling party. I don't understand where the hell you guys took the MB fear. 7aga te2ref

^^ +1 seriously those are the same people that said to the old regime that when ever some happen in egypt, shark attacks and booming they blame it on outsiders. Now you guys blame everything on the MB which is stupid. You're giving them more attention than what you should of. You're increasing there popularity those uneducated egyptians will vote for the name they heard of not for what people said about them. Talk about the good people you're ignoring now for the future of egypt's sake!

What parties are big enough to challenge the MB at the moment?

Believing that Egypt is ready for democracy it totally wrong. Sadly, to bring back stability from the chaos, you will need the police brutality to stop behaviors by the baltageya and the counter-revolution.

is that there are still Egyptians who are not ready to accept the choice of majority in this free referundum??

What do you mean?

Learning from today, I believe to win the MB in the next elections they need to consider about 5 points.

One: if you noticed all or most online polls where in favour of NO but majority who voted are uneducated poor people. That's why the MB was clever to ignore the people of the internet and leave those endless debates Not only the internet they nearly forgot about any educated high mid-class person. They manipulated the poor.

So ya the party has to have some plans and to majorities. Those are poor uneducated egyptians.

Two: trust, you need to do whatever you say so people trust you. When you say we will provide jobs for newly undergraduates people knows from experience that it's going to happen.

Three: activities, you need your members to do lots activities. For locals in there area. Like if there is problems between two families they should be the first there to solve them problems, if someone died they should attend there funeral. Stuff like that you need members that get involved.

Four: popularity, yes uneducated people won't just vote for person who they don't know. Most people vote for whom they know they won't look at your platform and say yes I will choose this. We are farrr away from this stage. And really most the stuff I said above should gain you that.

Five: I really think having youth is really a good plus for you. They have fresh brain and outstanding ideas. Also they can get into the heart of the locals.

wald el bled, from what I understood. Erm no they got angry for a second and really everyone has to start respect other's opinion. And those are 4million who said no that's like 5% of egypt's population. So we don't expect anything bad to happen really.

wald el bled, from what I understood. Erm no they got angry for a second and really everyone has to start respect other's opinion. And those are 4million who said no that's like 5% of egypt's population. So we don't expect anything bad to happen really.

Yes I understand ...... but to say that people are uneducated poor ..... and propaganda ... didn't make sense :ohno:

One: if you noticed all or most online polls where in favour of NO but majority who voted are uneducated poor people. That's why the MB was clever to ignore the people of the internet and leave those endless debates Not only the internet they nearly forgot about any educated high mid-class person. They manipulated the poor.

So ya the party has to have some plans and to majorities. Those are poor uneducated egyptians.


Exactly!

These poor and uneducated masses are very vulnerable to manipulation. That's why the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces should have PREVENTED the Muslim Brotherhood to manipulate public opinion using Religion, Mosques, and Friday Preachers. Just like how they banned the media from swaying opinion they should have done the same to the brotherhood!

Guys, the Brotherhood is a notorious organization, using religion as a cover to their personal agenda. They are the next biggest enemy after Mubarak. And it's really unfortunate that a large segment of Egyptian society is too uneducated, and maybe even ignorant to ignore this, and not see the reality!

We must exercise our full rights and powers to stop these Barbarians from gaining popularity. They are NOT working in the interests of Egyptians, they are working in the interests of themselves and Islam.

I'm going to start doing what I can by creating a "Egyptians AGAINST the Muslim Brotherhood" Facebook Group, where I will outline the things the Brotherhood have said before, and the harm they could to Egypt and try and share these ideas with like minded Egyptians.

As long as the Brotherhood pose a threat to the tolerance, freedoms and rights of Egyptians, I will NEVER give up the fight against them. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life fighting against them.

Egypt approves amendments, prepares for next step


CAIRO: Egyptians voted in favor of proposed constitutional amendments by an overwhelming 77.2 percent in Saturday’s referendum. Results were announced on Sunday evening.

Voter participation exceeded 41 percent, four times the percentage of voters in November’s parliamentary elections. Out of 45 million people eligible to vote, 18,537,000 citizens cast a ballot.

The high rate of participation reflects Egypt’s first steps toward democracy. Though the results were contrary to some expectations, Egyptians as a whole are comfortable with the results. Many Egyptians feel that the people’s voice have been heard, and all will abide by the decision. Some have called for unity now that the results have been announced, saying those who voted yes and those who voted no should stand together.

The expected scenario after the approval of the constitutional amendments is that parliamentary elections will be held sometime in the next six months, followed by presidential elections before the end of the year.

The amendments require the next parliament to form a 100-member assembly to draft a new constitution within six months. The constitution must be approved by a referendum of the people.

The main concern now among many Egyptians is that six months is too soon to hold parliamentary elections. Proponents say Egyptian political parties will not be ready for the elections, and many of the ’25 January Youth’ have not been absorbed into any of the existing political parties.

Some have claimed if existent Egyptian parties aging decades ago couldn’t yield enough acceptance from Egyptian people, neither did they prove themselves on the political arena. How, then, can newly formed parties prepare themselves, their platforms, and gain acceptance among the Egyptian people within six months?

One main complaint on Saturday’s referendum is the move by some religious groups for their followers to vote ‘yes’ on a religious basis. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) distributed many fliers encouraging people to vote ‘yes’ for the amendments, and Salafists Islamists told their followers if they did not vote ‘yes’ Article 2 of the constitution would be cancelled. Article 2 states that Islam is the state religion and principles of Islamic “Sharia” law is the main source of legislation. :bash:

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, however, declined to say which way he voted, not wishing to influence the vote of those who follow him.

Conversely, many Coptic Christians called for a ‘no’ vote because they want an entirely new constitution, feeling they are not equal citizens under the current constitution.

Debate over a new constitution could put religion under the spotlight. A new constitution could subject Article 2 to changes, opening the door for religious conflict between those demanding the necessity of its change, and those who insist on keeping it, whatever their reasons may be.

BM


http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=30948

Lol that's harsh but really it's your right to speak out your view.

Though to advice you, you need to make sure the group name and genera look of the group is not directly related to MB you won't find much supporters. So you need to wear a mask and change people's view through it.

False propaganda should be outlawed in any upcoming election. Anyone who distributes any type or form of false propaganda should not be allowed to take part in the voting proccess. And during the parliamentary elections, if an candidate encourages any form of false propaganda he/she and should not take part in the elections. If the person is not an independent candidate, then the party is held responsible as well.

It simply can not be tolerated.

I agree but who decides if it's false or not?

Logic? :dunno:

I agree but who decides if it's false or not?

good question

@azmat but does that make everyone happy? how about human rights?

This is an example of false propaganda:

"Vote yes or God will turn his back on Egypt"

"God wants you to vote yes"

Of course this will make the uneducated, conservative, fellahin to vote yes.

yes but how law view this. is that you're person who speak out his view. and who is not sure and have faith or believe on you. maybe trust will follow you. and this is legal I think...


Banning it wont solve the problem but create more problem. solving the problem is by try and get influence like the guy who said so and get into people's heat and do the exact opposite.

and you are a winner in both situations. if they ban you they'll ban them too if they don't you got people on your side too ;)

This is an example of false propaganda:

"Vote yes or God will turn his back on Egypt"

"God wants you to vote yes"

Of course this will make the uneducated, conservative, fellahin to vote yes.

:lol: they haven't right ? why don't you propose something better and everybody follows you?? it's very simple :nuts:

yea man, just because we here say NO doesn't make it the right choice.

yes but how law view this. is that you're person who speak out his view. and who is not sure and have faith or believe on you. maybe trust will follow you. and this is legal I think...


Banning it wont solve the problem but create more problem. solving the problem is by try and get influence like the guy who said so and get into people's heat and do the exact opposite.

and you are a winner in both situations. if they ban you they'll ban them too if they don't you got people on your side too ;)




I disagree. We need a clearly formulated law that transparently declares how the election process will work, and clearly stating the regulations that must be followed by everyone and every political party.

My opinion is forming a non-governmental body whom is given the complete authority to form political parties and prepare and plan elections. They are given some autonomy, however they still answer to parliament. Our elections can not be in the hands of a bunch of people whom the president and government choose to lead the process. That is unacceptable.

It's wrong if they were manipulated into believing that it is the right thing. If it was their own opinioin then sure...

It's wrong if they were manipulated into believing that it is the right thing. If it was their own opinioin then sure...

but what make you so sure that all were manipulated? also people in the churches were told to vote NO. so same thing applies there.

That's just as wrong, doesn't matter what they tell you to vote on.

Not everyone was manipulated, of course not. But there's no denying the fact that the results would have been different without their propaganda.

I disagree. We need a clearly formulated law that transparently declares how the election process will work, and clearly stating the regulations that must be followed by everyone and every political party.

My opinion is forming a non-governmental body whom is given the complete authority to form political parties and prepare and plan elections. They are given some autonomy, however they still answer to parliament. Our elections can not be in the hands of a bunch of people whom the president and government choose to lead the process. That is unacceptable.

yes we need, but we don't have. so I don't see how what you said would work. we don't even have the right to make such thing under the current circumstances and all the pressure. things need to settle down then we can start doing things right.

our first election wont be as you guys expect. you guys want Egypt to accelerate from 0m/s to 200m/s in 1 sec which is impossible. we need to work step by step.

but what make you so sure that all were manipulated? also people in the churches were told to vote NO. so same thing applies there.

Many people, especially the uneducated, were told the second article of the constiution was part of the referendum and voting "NO" would mean that people agree it should be removed. The typical uneducated Egyptian would obviously fall for that and believe its true.

That is unacceptable. The Brotherhood must be held accountable in any future elections. The same goes for any political party that uses false propaganda or religion to manuiplate the population. I'm happy with the turnout of the referendum, and I am sure that the majority of Egyptians did indeed vote in favour of the changes (14 million could not all be manuiplated by the Brotherhood), however, the referendum took place way too early. Again, there were minor flaws, and lessons to be learned. I am only trying to find solutions to the flaws.

That's just as wrong, doesn't matter what they tell you to vote on.

Not everyone was manipulated, of course not. But there's no denying the fact that the results would have been different without their propaganda.

yup but we have uneducated people. we should not compare Egypt with what you like see in Sweden. right now compare this with what we used to have before 25th of jan. how significant is the improvement? that what matters. we're moving forward not backward.

Many people, especially the uneducated, were told that the second article of the constiution was part of the referendum and voting "NO" would mean that people agree it should be removed. The typical uneducated Egyptian would obviously fall for that and believe its true.

That is unacceptable. The Brotherhood must be held accountable in any future elections. The same goes for any political party that uses false propaganda or religion to manuiplate the population.

hmmm, From what I saw, the paper itself clearly state the articles they planned. it's there problem been uneducated. we won't get there in a spark. good that the MB wont get more than 30% now we can educate them people in the next 6 years :)

yup but we have uneducated people. we should not compare Egypt with what you like see in Sweden. right now compare this with what we used to have before 25th of jan. how significant is the improvement? that what matters. we're moving forward not backward.

Yes but that's not the problem, the problem is that we need to pave the road. We need to prepare Egypt for democracy. With a crappy constitution we'll just end up with another dictator, and maybe even worse, a theocratic regime.

hmmm, From what I saw, the paper itself clearly state the articles they planned. it's there problem been uneducated. we won't get there in a spark. good that the MB wont get more than 30% now we can educate them people in the next 6 years :)

Its not their problem they are uneducated. Its the problem of a thirty year brutal dictatorship. Thirty years of barely any true educational system. And it is the problem of those who take advantage of their weakness instead of encouraging them to understand the changes. I think it would have been much more "Islamic" for the Brotherhood to explain to those who can not read nor write the changes, and let them choose. Much better than using religion and false lies to force them to vote in favour of the changes.

Yes but that's not the problem, the problem is that we need to pave the road. We need to prepare Egypt for democracy. With a crappy constitution we'll just end up with another dictator, and maybe even worse, a theocratic regime.

that is all possible all ways now. after 25 shown that we cannot go back it's simply not logical. at least not in the near future. but really how fast we do them stuff and how perfect we do them is depended on how educated people are. so with the 6 years the MB gave us we need to focus on education totally!

otherwise if the MB got power after 6 years and we didn't improve education then we're screwed. it's like entering a maze in the night.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what the army will do.

Its not their problem they are uneducated. Its the problem of a thirty year brutal dictatorship. Thirty years of barely any true educational system. And it is the problem of those who take advantage of their weakness instead of encouraging them to understand the changes. I think it would have been much more "Islamic" for the Brotherhood to explain to those who can not read nor write the changes, and let them choose. Much better than using religion and false lies to force them to vote in favour of the changes.

Well yes the regime didn't tell them to go and have education but I'm sure they provided the facilities maybe not the best education but they would of at least known how to thread the paper. they hold responsibility but not fully IMO.

Also th fact MB took advantage is our problem that we did not spot there move one step forward and educate them people they're taking advantage from. talking now wont solve any problem we NEED to learn from today's lesson and prove in next 4 elections that we can overcome the MB.

It's wrong if they were manipulated into believing that it is the right thing. If it was their own opinioin then sure...

and others too will think that you're handling ........ hbibi your reasoning leads to nothing ... When it suits us we can not find a thousand excuses but
In a democracy, there's no guardian , and everyone who believes that he alone holds the right decisions is a Dictator

Well yes the regime didn't tell them to go and have education but I'm sure they provided the facilities maybe not the best education but they would of at least known how to thread the paper. they hold responsibility but not fully IMO.

Also th fact MB took advantage is our problem that we did not spot there move one step forward and educate them people they're taking advantage from. talking now wont solve any problem we NEED to learn from today's lesson and prove in next 4 elections that we can overcome the MB.

In order to learn from the lesson, we need to understand the problem.

The problem is we have a wide uneducated population. A population which the Brotherhood exploit to their advantage. No other political force in Egypt exploits the uneducated as much as the Brotherhood. Thus, in order to learn from the lesson, we need to implement laws that prevent these acts from occuring again.

In order to learn from the lesson, we need to understand the problem.

The problem is we have a wide uneducated population. A population which the Brotherhood exploit to their advantage. No other political force in Egypt exploits the uneducated as much as the Brotherhood. Thus, in order to learn from the lesson, we need to implement laws that prevent these acts from occuring again.

you're asking the army to learn and do actions and that will just take forever until we get what we want. plus the army have no intention to rule any longer.

so you need to start thinking that the candidates and parties are the one who should take lesson. the political movements like kefay and 6th of April also others ...

also of university students can go out and educate people that would be even more good.

we cannot afford a permanent solution now it will simply take forever. we need to find a solution that will make the wheel move until we go to the shop where it's going to be fixed. what you're say is stop we're going to fix it here. while people wan stability as fast as possible that's why they voted yes.

I agree but who decides if it's false or not?

Quite simply, Political Advertising/Campaigning through any religion, or any house of worship, be it a mosque, church or synagogue. Should not be tolerated at all. And the authorities should monitor this, and NOT allow signs at places of worships, and not allow preachers to tell their clergy to vote for a certain result.

I think we need to implement what the State Security did in this regard, monitoring speech's of Imams and Priests to make sure they don't violate such rules.

In order to learn from the lesson, we need to understand the problem.

The problem is we have a wide uneducated population. A population which the Brotherhood exploit to their advantage. No other political force in Egypt exploits the uneducated as much as the Brotherhood. Thus, in order to learn from the lesson, we need to implement laws that prevent these acts from occuring again.

Exactly!

We just came out fresh from 60 years of dictatorship, how can such an impoverished, uneducated, religious-propaganda-prone, population make informed and responsible decisions in a the first democratic process in 6 millenia of Egyptian History??

The Referendum was democratic, but it was VERY unfair. It should have been delayed much longer, and Egyptians should have been much more educated on the meanings, and repercussions of a "Yes" or "No" vote. Today, on my uncles show, he brought 2 Constitutional Law experts, 2 of the best in Egypt. A woman called in and said: "Me and my family voted Yes, but after what I heard today on your show, I regret my decision, had I known better I would have voted No".

See what I mean? :ohno:

and others too will think that you're handling ........ hbibi your reasoning leads to nothing ... When it suits us we can not find a thousand excuses but
In a democracy, there's no guardian , and everyone who believes that he alone holds the right decisions is a Dictator

I dont, I just don't like the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood manipulated the poor and uneducated.

Learning from today, I believe to win the MB in the next elections they need to consider about 5 points.

One: if you noticed all or most online polls where in favour of NO but majority who voted are uneducated poor people. That's why the MB was clever to ignore the people of the internet and leave those endless debates Not only the internet they nearly forgot about any educated high mid-class person. They manipulated the poor.

So ya the party has to have some plans and to majorities. Those are poor uneducated egyptians.

Two: trust, you need to do whatever you say so people trust you. When you say we will provide jobs for newly undergraduates people knows from experience that it's going to happen.

Three: activities, you need your members to do lots activities. For locals in there area. Like if there is problems between two families they should be the first there to solve them problems, if someone died they should attend there funeral. Stuff like that you need members that get involved.

Four: popularity, yes uneducated people won't just vote for person who they don't know. Most people vote for whom they know they won't look at your platform and say yes I will choose this. We are farrr away from this stage. And really most the stuff I said above should gain you that.

Five: I really think having youth is really a good plus for you. They have fresh brain and outstanding ideas. Also they can get into the heart of the locals.


Makes no sense.
So you are accusing 24 million egyptian as uneducted and ga7ala:wtf::doh:

@egypt69

do you really think that the people are ready for that now?

you both freaking live in Canada in your eyes from the environment around you feel it's possible but you need to drop down to Egypt and trust me you'll change your view.

Also what you're saying need another referendum to be approved. do you reckon it will be fair? no not at all. we need to educate them first. education then education then education and then everything follows. priorities people. form the base to the top.

Makes no sense.
So you are accusing 24 million egyptian as uneducted and ga7ala:wtf::doh:

nope not me. the CIA Factbook said so ;)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/eg.html


Also I didn't put any numbers. I said they took advantage of the poor. maybe that's why we had a huge turnout? they went to get something in return :dunno:

do you really think that the people are ready for that now?

you both freaking live in Canada in your eyes from the environment around you feel it's possible but you need to drop down to Egypt and trust me you'll change your view.

Also what you're saying need another referendum to be approved. do you reckon it will be fair? no not at all. we need to educate them first. education then education then education and then everything follows. priorities people. form the base to the top.

You`re not convincing me. And no chance MB could take control of the country. If they're trying to do so. Our army will work hard to stop them. How can the strongest institution accept MB as the ruling party ?

@egypt69

do you really think that the people are ready for that now?

you both freaking live in Canada in your eyes from the environment around you feel it's possible but you need to drop down to Egypt and trust me you'll change your view.

Also what you're saying need another referendum to be approved. do you reckon it will be fair? no not at all. we need to educate them first. education then education then education and then everything follows. priorities people. form the base to the top.

Ready for what exactly?

I don't think people were ready for THIS referendum!

Ready for what exactly?

I don't think people were ready for THIS referendum!

everything really :dunno:

exactly my thoughts, we didn't even have the chance to debate about it. there should at least been a forum or conference at at tahrir and every famous landmark in every city showing people why yes and why no. it happened so fast IMO.

You`re not convincing me. And no chance MB could take control of the country. If they're trying to do so. Our army will work hard to stop them. How can the strongest institution accept MB as the ruling party ?

can you read what you have said? it's totally an opinion and wont change anything from reality. the results prove that the MB have more influence and have more experience and that alone is enough for them to win any time they want.

not that I'm with that. I'd like to add the word sadly somewhere in that paragraph.

I dont, I just don't like the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood manipulated the poor and uneducated.

:evil: but who are you to decide that they were manipulated ????? :dunno:

can you read what you have said? it's totally an opinion and wont change anything from reality. the results prove that the MB have more influence and have more experience and that alone is enough for them to win any time they want.

not that I'm with that. I'd like to add the word sadly somewhere in that paragraph.

Ya 3am MB eh w khara eh. Denta 3ayesh fe malq tani. Why would the damn army allow such result in presidential election? For the second time, the army will never let MB rule the country. Khalek faker.

:evil: but who are you to decide that they were manipulated ????? :dunno:

:dunno: either.

let me ask you the same question, why not? it's there right. they freaking allowed them to have a political party :nuts:

let me ask you the same question, why not? it's there right. they freaking allowed them to have a political party :nuts:

U.S.A will ask our army to not allow MB within the next elections. Having MB ruling the country would be a huge loss for Israel and co when look at the middle east issue. Are they going to let such tragical event occure? I doubt it could happen, i put a 20$ our army will be involved to stop MB from ruling the country.

how much you going to bet on that?

Let me turn you down, just an hour ago. I saw an article say that Egypt is giving Israel gas with the international normal price. how is that in favor for Israel it's against them yet. not action so far from both sides. they cant do much about it :)

the MB clearly said they wont seek more than 30% they're clever they're looking into the near future. once the army is gone 6 years and MB can easily get into power if we did not act about it. and in 6 years the army wont be on power so what does the have to do about or Israel???

the MB clearly said they wont seek more than 30% they're clever they're looking into the near future. once the army is gone 6 years and MB can easily get into power if we did not act about it. and in 6 years the army wont be on power so what does the have to do about or Israel???

Enta kda bet kharaf ya 3am. Nezam masr el gedida 7ayeb2a wad3 Barlamany. Our army council is aware of this. By doing a parliament election, you are radicaly removing any threat of autoritarian regime taking control. But talking about a ''welcome back'' for Hosny Mubarak is the funniest thing i ever heard so far :lol:

Ok the army leaving power in 6 years... Who cares, there is no more SS or Police security in the country. the strongest institution is the army.

everything really :dunno:

exactly my thoughts, we didn't even have the chance to debate about it. there should at least been a forum or conference at at tahrir and every famous landmark in every city showing people why yes and why no. it happened so fast IMO.

Which is what I said here:

Quite simply, Political Advertising/Campaigning through any religion, or any house of worship, be it a mosque, church or synagogue. Should not be tolerated at all. And the authorities should monitor this, and NOT allow signs at places of worships, and not allow preachers to tell their clergy to vote for a certain result.

I think we need to implement what the State Security did in this regard, monitoring speech's of Imams and Priests to make sure they don't violate such rules.



Exactly!

We just came out fresh from 60 years of dictatorship, how can such an impoverished, uneducated, religious-propaganda-prone, population make informed and responsible decisions in a the first democratic process in 6 millenia of Egyptian History??

The Referendum was democratic, but it was VERY unfair. It should have been delayed much longer, and Egyptians should have been much more educated on the meanings, and repercussions of a "Yes" or "No" vote. Today, on my uncles show, he brought 2 Constitutional Law experts, 2 of the best in Egypt. A woman called in and said: "Me and my family voted Yes, but after what I heard today on your show, I regret my decision, had I known better I would have voted No".

See what I mean? :ohno:

:evil: but who are you to decide that they were manipulated ????? :dunno:

Uhh, it's a fact. Shiekhs were preaching that if you don't vote Yes, you'd be "against Gods will". And that "All muslims have to vote Yes". And MB had posters in mosques and stuff.

It's bullshit like that which does not allow voters to make a fair and informed decision.

Which is what I said here:





Uhh, it's a fact. Shiekhs were preaching that if you don't vote Yes, you'd be "against Gods will". And that "All muslims have to vote Yes". And MB had posters in mosques and stuff.

It's bullshit like that which does not allow voters to make a fair and informed decision.


Watching Masr el Naharda yesterday. They denied any calls by mosques.

Watching Masr el Naharda yesterday. They denied any calls by mosques.

Not true.

Not true.

Oh you were in Egypt in a mosque????
Stop believing anything by medias:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

Oh you were in Egypt in a mosque????
Stop believing anything by medias:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

My Uncle is a journalist, if anything, I have the most direct source out of anyone here.



Results by individual Governorates:


http://www.totallyegypt.com/images/referendum_results.jpg

Not one governorate had a majority "No" vote :doh:

Doesn't mean churches & Mosques were involved :wtf:

Uhh, it's a fact. Shiekhs were preaching that if you don't vote Yes, you'd be "against Gods will". And that "All muslims have to vote Yes". And MB had posters in mosques and stuff.

It's bullshit like that which does not allow voters to make a fair and informed decision.

Since you think that is bullshit .. why don't you offer alternatives to people to convince them before accuse others that are unéducated and poor ???

Something strange came in my mind.

How many Copts are allowed to vote in Egypt? How 4 million only voted for no? While i believe more than 4 million copts could have voted for no without forgetting sectarians all over the country?

Doesn't mean churches & Mosques were involved :wtf:

Omg, Mosques and Churches were involved in spreading propaganda. Shiekhs were calling to their listeners to say YES and Priests were calling to their listeners to say NO.

Eitherway, using religion as a tool for a political agenda is unacceptable!

Since you think that is bullshit .. why don't you offer alternatives to people to convince them before accuse others that are unéducated and poor ???

SURE! ANYTHING EXCEPT USING THE MOSQUE OR CHURCH!

Flyers, Television Ads, Door-to-door campaigns. Maybe a televised address highlighting what the referendum really means, and its full details could have been broadcast on state television or something.

To be honest, only time will tell who was right and who wasn't. . But i hope every religious institutions is urging that Constitutional changes must not strife sectarian division.

But god damn i'm happy. For the first time we chosed our future :banana:

Uhh, it's a fact. Shiekhs were preaching that if you don't vote Yes, you'd be "against Gods will". And that "All muslims have to vote Yes". And MB had posters in mosques and stuff.

It's bullshit like that which does not allow voters to make a fair and informed decision.

Every single MB member and leader I saw on the media and I know personally have fully respected and always respected the other opinion. You are mixng between the MB and some smal groups of "salafis". And if some groups of "salafis" were claiming that voting a certain way would be "against God's will", then similarly, many people who were supporting voting for No were saying it's "against the will of the revolution" and "a disrespect of the blood of the martyrs?!?!!?" and "a step in the direction opposite to the revolution". Take a look at this video:
O9-Aj3W1btQ

And then again, that is not mentioning the fact that some very prominent coptic figures openly and proudly supported saying No in the vote and made it a duty on christians to do so, so that the "MB doesn't rise to power". Nobody even thinks twice about that. Is it only bullshit when it comes from Muslims? Or is it because those people supported saying No in the referendum?

Every single MB member and leader I saw on the media and I know personally have fully respected and always respected the other opinion. You are mixng between the MB and some smal groups of "salafis". And if some groups of "salafis" were claiming that voting a certain way would be "against God's will", then similarly, many people who were supporting voting for No were saying it's "against the will of the revolution" and "a disrespect of the blood of the martyrs?!?!!?" and "a step in the direction opposite to the revolution". Take a look at this video:

Saying it's "against the wil of the revolution" is fine, because it's not affiliated with a religious motive.

O9-Aj3W1btQ

Sorry my internet is really slow right now, do you mind just summing up what the video says?

And then again, that is not mentioning the fact that some very prominent coptic figures openly and proudly supported saying No in the vote and made it a duty on christians to do so, so that the "MB doesn't rise to power". Nobody even thinks twice about that. Is it only bullshit when it comes from Muslims? Or is it because those people supported saying No in the referendum?

And when did I say it applies to Muslims only?

I said before, houses of worship or any religious institution, regardless of what religion it is, should NOT be involved in swaying public opinion on voting. They have NO RIGHT to tell their clergy during preaching to vote "yes" or "No", they have no right to say "it's for god" or "it's for religion"

That stuff has no place in elections like these. And that's why I believe the vote was unfair. The population, a large segment of which are poor, uneducated, and coming fresh out of 60 years of no political life, were vulnerable to religious propaganda, which the salafists succeeded in doing, and as a result were not able to make informed and balanced voting decisions,

Every single MB member and leader I saw on the media and I know personally have fully respected and always respected the other opinion. You are mixng between the MB and some smal groups of "salafis". And if some groups of "salafis" were claiming that voting a certain way would be "against God's will", then similarly, many people who were supporting voting for No were saying it's "against the will of the revolution" and "a disrespect of the blood of the martyrs?!?!!?" and "a step in the direction opposite to the revolution".

Saying that it is a betrayel to the revolution to vote in favour of the changes is a totally legitmate point that does not go off the trail of any democratic discussion. It is an opinion, that could be debated, and whoever wins the debate could very much secure the majority. It is a discussion and debate based on levelled political ideologies. However to even compare that to using Religion is a totally unfair and naive comparison. Saying it is a "moral and religious" obligation is not within the boundaries of a democratic discussion and debate.

If ANYONE from the Muslim Brotherhood or the Salafist parties was to debate a more liberal opponent, one will simply rant about religion, using it to manuiplate people. While the other will attempt to make the people understand democracy, and reach their conscience. There is a huge difference.

As for the Church...they have totally legitmate fears. They do not want any religious based parties to come into power. It was the MB and Salafi's whom FIRST supported the changes, knowing it will give them the upper hand. Did you expect the Church to simply ignore that? Picture yourself as a Copt in Egypt and I'm sure you would have probably voted in favour of a new constiution and a longer transition.

The MB and Salafist have been exposed. Their hunger for power is now known to every Egyptian. They are willing to use illegitmate means to turn Egypt into a corrupt society. They are not Islamic, nor do they represent Islam. What the MB and Salafists have done is disgraceful. But thankfully, they have been exposed early on, and their intentions have been made clear to every Egyptian. They will be defeated, along with every so-called "Shiekh" whom disgracefully supported these changes and forced others to conform to his viewpoint.

My cousin is a member in the Muslim Brotherhood, he's a mix between super conservative and secular. He opposed the propaganda that the MB was spreading. Not all members are bad.

My cousin is a member in the Muslim Brotherhood, he's a mix between super conservative and secular. He opposed the propaganda that the MB was spreading. Not all members are bad.

I agree.

The MB is organized and many of its members are more open-minded to the idea of a full democracy and respecting a civil constitution. I have known many MB members who are very well educated, very politically aware, and respect democracy and find it compatible with the Islamic ideals of the MB. However, the MB is also home to some Salafists, whom are using its well organized establishments to eventually reach an influential post in Egyptian politics. The MB have the complete right to form a civil political party based on some Islamic ideals, but open to every Egyptian, no matter their religion or gender. Then, they will have the complete support of many Egyptians to become a legitmate player in Egyptian politics. But what I see from the MB leadership today is a vision which ONLY THEY know. What we are told is not necessarily their way of thinking. They market themselves as having "changed" and now being more open-minded, and seeking democracy. But their history proves the complete opposite. Transparency is absolutely crucial for trust.

^^
Can I argue against you and say that in an ideal scenario, political parties with a religious basis should be banned in Egypt, under a new constitution.

Religious political parties are inherently discriminatory, and are not compatible with democracy. If, according to religion X, the only acceptable law of the land is one that is based upon religion X, you are bound to have discrimination against people who do not share the ideals of religion X.

This is different to secular political parties, who argue for their policies by appealing to people's rational desire for a better society, on the basis of values that can be applied to all humans.

Saying that it is a betrayel to the revolution to vote in favour of the changes is a totally legitmate point that does not go off the trail of any democratic discussion. It is an opinion, that could be debated, and whoever wins the debate could very much secure the majority. It is a discussion and debate based on levelled political ideologies. However to even compare that to using Religion is a totally unfair and naive comparison. Saying it is a "moral and religious" obligation is not within the boundaries of a democratic discussion and debate.

If ANYONE from the Muslim Brotherhood or the Salafist parties was to debate a more liberal opponent, one will simply rant about religion, using it to manuiplate people. While the other will attempt to make the people understand democracy, and reach their conscience. There is a huge difference.

As for the Church...they have totally legitmate fears. They do not want any religious based parties to come into power. It was the MB and Salafi's whom FIRST supported the changes, knowing it will give them the upper hand. Did you expect the Church to simply ignore that? Picture yourself as a Copt in Egypt and I'm sure you would have probably voted in favour of a new constiution and a longer transition.

The MB and Salafist have been exposed. Their hunger for power is now known to every Egyptian. They are willing to use illegitmate means to turn Egypt into a corrupt society. They are not Islamic, nor do they represent Islam. What the MB and Salafists have done is disgraceful. But thankfully, they have been exposed early on, and their intentions have been made clear to every Egyptian. They will be defeated, along with every so-called "Shiekh" whom disgracefully supported these changes and forced others to conform to his viewpoint.

:applause:

^^
Can I argue against you and say that in an ideal scenario, political parties with a religious basis should be banned in Egypt, under a new constitution.

Religious political parties are inherently discriminatory, and are not compatible with democracy. If, according to religion X, the only acceptable law of the land is one that is based upon religion X, you are bound to have discrimination against people who do not share the ideals of religion X.

This is different to secular political parties, who argue for their policies by appealing to people's rational desire for a better society, on the basis of values that can be applied to all humans.

In Theory, I agree with you. I'd love to see any party based on a religious ideology banned.

However in reality, the Muslim Brotherhood is unfortunately one of the most organized movements in Egypt today, and a significant component in Egyptian Politics.

Let us remember, the reason why they are so big and popular today, is that Mubarak's oppression actually strengthened them, and Mubarak used them as a tool to say "Look it's me or the Islamists". Essentially, Mubarak was purposely feeding a monster. A monster which at the time, he had on a leash, and now that Mubarak is gone, the leash has been removed, and the MB monster is on the loose.

We really have Sadat (who crushed the leftists and seculars) and Mubarak to blame for the growth of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the spread of religious conservatism in the country. Mubarak ruined this country in uncountable ways, this is just one of them.

Point is, as much as I would like to see it, an outright ban on religious parties, which would be directly affecting the MB, will only make them stronger, and I fear it would make them turn to more radical options. That's why I believe the MB has to be included in the political process, whether we like it or not.

What I think should be done now, is allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to compete in the political arena BUT WE HAVE TO establish completely civil and secular constitution, which safeguards the rights and freedoms of all Egyptians, regardless of their gender, religion, race etc. And this will be the barrier that protects the Egyptian people from any discriminatory laws or policies the MB might want to introduce. So basically we're letting them into Parliament, but they won't be able to impose any laws or policies which discriminate, thanks to a constitution in place that safeguards the rights of these Egyptians.

^^
Well put. I agree with you that the reality of the situation means that we will have the MB whether we like it or not.

I didn't have time to read each comment in detail, but what I feel is that people are being selective in their democracy. If you want democracy, that's exactly what the MB wants too, and there's a plethora of facts that prove that.

The problem is, people are saying we should hold parliamentary elections soon b/c then the MB would get a lot of votes. WHAT?!?!? Seriously?!?! Isn't that what it's all about. It's not like the MB rigs elections like the NDP - if they win a lot of votes it's because the people vote for them democratically without any coercion.

people are saying we shouldn't* hold parliamentary.....

I really suggest people watch the video I posted - if you can't watch the whole thing watch the latter half. Keep in mind that the guy who's speaking, if you don't already know, is not a part of the MB.

But you guys must take in consideration our army is going to put the parlementary election before the presidential one so the upcoming president doesn't abuse of his power. We are talking about a democratic power where for the first time he won't take decisions alone. . So having MB taking control of the parliament is going to be more dangerous than having MB becoming ruling party ( president). We are talking about a Parliamentary conception.

Our army council isn't that stupid to held the presidential election before the parliamentary one.

I didn't have time to read each comment in detail, but what I feel is that people are being selective in their democracy. If you want democracy, that's exactly what the MB wants too, and there's a plethora of facts that prove that.

Are you being serious? :uh:

The MB wants democracy? They are trying to take ADVANTAGE of democracy, trying to Hijack the revolution for their own goals.

As any in-depth glance at the ideology and history of the Muslim Brothers reveals, the organization's end goal is to set up a fundamentalist state, ruled according to a very stringent interpretation of Islam in its domestic and foreign policies.

Rather than embarking on violent jihad, the Brothers believe in spreading their ideas quietly to the masses.

The Brothers believe that if their ideas are transmitted effectively, a majority of the people will eventually demand that the constitution of Egypt be changed to fit the Brotherhood's ideology.

Look no further than the Muslim Brotherhood's official English-language website for evidence of these goals. The core principle is laid out: "The introduction of the Islamic Shari`ah as the basis controlling the affairs of state and society."

Al-Qaeda and the Brothers share the same ultimate vision, but have starkly different ways of operating.

Unlike al-Qaeda's Salafi jihadis, who say that violence is a religious duty, the Muslim Brotherhood is working from the roots up, using social and economic aid programs to build up a support base they hope will one day vote them into power.


And Sharia is NOT democracy. Muslim Brotherhood will never loosen their grip if they come to power. Those savages.


The problem is, people are saying we should hold parliamentary elections soon b/c then the MB would get a lot of votes. WHAT?!?!? Seriously?!?! Isn't that what it's all about. It's not like the MB rigs elections like the NDP - if they win a lot of votes it's because the people vote for them democratically without any coercion.

It's democratic but it's NOT fair! How can you expect Egyptians to make informed decisions, when they are being swayed by religious propaganda and threatened by Salafaists? Especially when you consider the fact that a large segment of Egyptians are poor, poorly educated, it makes them MORE vulnerable to religious propaganda!


I really want to stop talking about this, just thinking of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafasits makes my blood boil. These people are the next worst thing after Mubarak. I'd love to see them obliterated off the face of the earth.

:ohno:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOU4pKwPnq0

:ohno:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOU4pKwPnq0

Saw this video before, outrageous :ohno:

See this is exactly what I was talking about. An old lady from a lower class area of Cairo, who instead of being neutrally informed of her civic rights and responsibilities, and educated about the full implications of a "yes" or "no" vote was taken advantage of by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.

When I saw this video the first time, I was hoping that people like her get run over by a bus. But then I realised, it's not her fault. Dii nas ghalaba, malhash zamb. It's the 7ayawant ele esmohom el Muslim brotherhood we'l Salafayeen which really deserve to be run over by a bus.

Saw this video before, outrageous :ohno:

See this is exactly what I was talking about. An old lady from a lower class area of Cairo, who instead of being neutrally informed of her civic rights and responsibilities, and educated about the full implications of a "yes" or "no" vote was taken advantage of by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.

When I saw this video the first time, I was hoping that people like her get run over by a bus. But then I realised, it's not her fault. Dii nas ghalaba, malhash zamb. It's the 7ayawant ele esmohom el Muslim brotherhood we'l Salafayeen which really deserve to be run over by a bus.
I'm glad to find Muslims like you , i'm disappointed by what some ppl are saying
they want to apply sharia law (cut off hands, stoning) etc :nuts:

He's an atheist. Infact he's the first Egyptian atheist I've ever encountered. :)

I'm glad to find Muslims like you , i'm disappointed by what some ppl are saying
they want to apply sharia law (cut off hands, stoning) etc :nuts:

But let me make myself clear, many people here will come quick to call me "Anti-Islamic" (Which is silly since my entire family is Muslim) Just wanna make it clear I'm against ANY religious based constitution, legal system, government etc. That's ANY religion, be it Islamic, Chritian, Jewish etc.

The only acceptable Egypt to me is a civil Egyptian secular state and constitution, which respects the rights of all Egyptians, regardless of their race, religion, gender etc. I also want to see the "Religion" box removed from the National ID Card and such.

How hard is it for people to keep their religion in their personal lives and in the place of worship and not stuff it down everyone's throats?

I dream of an Egypt where Egyptians look at each other as Egyptians and Egyptians only, and put all these insignificant labels of religion behind the.

I want an Egypt where Egyptian Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bahai's, and Egyptians of any religion, are all equal, and live and coincide peacefully with one another.

There are a lot of Egyptian atheists but they are afraid to say that fearing getting slaughtered by extremists.

He's an atheist. Infact he's the first Egyptian atheist I've ever encountered. :)

I wouldn't call myself Atheist, Atheism is very absolutist. Maybe Agnostic is better. I simply believe in science and humanity that's all. I also believe that Human life is incomplete if one has to live in fear of punishment or reward after death.

Even though I don't follow Islam anymore, most of the things banned in Islam, I don't do myself. For example, I don't drink regularly, I don't do drugs etc. simply out of health concerns, and not because of a fear of "going to hell after I die".

I believe that I can be a good, moral, honest & respectful person myself, and that I don't need a religion to "keep me in check" and discipline me like a mom does to her child.


And BTW, people don't have to believe in what I do to be secular. You can be a passionate and practicing Muslim, Christian or whatever and STILL be secular. All secularism is, is the seperation of state and religion, to preserve the religious equality and freedom of all.

Unfortunately, many Egyptians see secularism as an anti-path to religion, and some see it as atheism. This is a very bad misconception, that needs to be corrected. Everyone has their rights and can practice their religion as much as they want in a secular system. I don't know why hardcore Islamists see it as a "threat" to their religion.

Let me ask what do you mean by secular? Give me examples.

I personally believe there is no such thing as secular, it maybe called that but doesn't mean it's 100% have nothing to do with any religion. Your ideas and through must be influenced from something and you simple cannot get anything that's pure secular.

Not that I'm with MB or any other party based on religion to take power. I believe religion men are there to do there job and politics aint anything to do with there profession. You always going to get ministers who are muslims, christians or what ever that alone tell me there decision going to have somewhat link with there religion even atheist and agnostics they have believe and that really is the same thing as religion. So you can't runaway from it. Therefore religion aint the problem the problem is in the people's ideology.


@azmat I knew an egyptian in person who was atheist :D and in Egypt!!!! But he used to switch every now and then :nuts:

I wouldn't call myself Atheist, Atheism is very absolutist. Maybe Agnostic is better. I simply believe in science and humanity that's all. I also believe that Human life is incomplete if one has to live in fear of punishment or reward after death.

Even though I don't follow Islam anymore, most of the things banned in Islam, I don't do myself. For example, I don't drink regularly, I don't do drugs etc. simply out of health concerns, and not because of a fear of "going to hell after I die".

I believe that I can be a good, moral, honest & respectful person myself, and that I don't need a religion to "keep me in check" and discipline me like a mom does to her child.


And BTW, people don't have to believe in what I do to be secular. You can be a passionate and practicing Muslim, Christian or whatever and STILL be secular. All secularism is, is the seperation of state and religion, to preserve the religious equality and freedom of all.

Unfortunately, many Egyptians see secularism as an anti-path to religion, and some see it as atheism. This is a very bad misconception, that needs to be corrected. Everyone has their rights and can practice their religion as much as they want in a secular system. I don't know why hardcore Islamists see it as a "threat" to their religion.

Very well said :kiss: :hug:


if you're living in Canada now you should come to Egypt to join the elections before it falls into the hands of terrorists :badnews:

Wops I replied too slow that reply was for the third post above it.

oI_cu72yp1w

Pathetic, since when were the MB terrorists, do you even know what's a terrorist? Please go and learn the definition of the word before using it.

Pathetic, since when were the MB terrorists, do you even know what's a terrorist? Please go and learn the definition of the word before using it.

^^

1f1J_P73rYg

http://www.youm7.com/images/issuehtm/images/youm/kahr28.jpg
http://www.youm7.com/images/NewsPics/large/s1120102814389.jpg

I agree with you Egypt69, I want to see a secular Egypt and I'm a Muslim. I want all Egyptians to feel that they're Egyptian. I don't want to see any more Christians moving to the US and complain about Egypt and that they're being treated like crap there, I want them to love their country and countrymen just as much as I do.

I don't see anything in those posters that defines the word terrorist.

Also from that I can clearly see that the NDP's and past regime's propaganda is still extremely effective. See that is no where near the word secular.

Let me ask what do you mean by secular? Give me examples.

I personally believe there is no such thing as secular, it maybe called that but doesn't mean it's 100% have nothing to do with any religion. Your ideas and through must be influenced from something and you simple cannot get anything that's pure secular.

Not that I'm with MB or any other party based on religion to take power. I believe religion men are there to do there job and politics aint anything to do with there profession. You always going to get ministers who are muslims, christians or what ever that alone tell me there decision going to have somewhat link with there religion even atheist and agnostics they have believe and that really is the same thing as religion. So you can't runaway from it. Therefore religion aint the problem the problem is in the people's ideology.


@azmat I knew an egyptian in person who was atheist :D and in Egypt!!!! But he used to switch every now and then :nuts:

A secular state is a state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen from a particular religion/nonreligion over other religions/nonreligion. Secular states do not have a state religion or equivalent

I'll give you examples of the Secualr Egypt I want to see:

- A civil state, with a secular constitution and legal system (devoid of any religious references). Which ensures equal freedoms and rights for ALL Egyptians regardless of their race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age etc. Things like Article 2 in the constitution are COMPLETELY unacceptable to me.

-Removing the religious field from the National I.D. Card.

If all Egyptians are equal than the only thing that should matter is their Egyptian-ness. Which is the purpose of the National ID Card. To prove that they are Egyptians. Why should it matter what the religion of the person is? All Egyptians should be equal right? The only outcome of having religion on the National I.D would be discrimination. For example, maybe a police officer pulling over a citizen might treat him/her differently if he notices a certain religion on the ID Card. On the other hand, if there was no religious identification on the ID Card, then the officer could only see the citizen as an Egyptian, and that's what matters really, not their religion.

- Personal status laws to be based on Civil Law. I believe the law in Egypt currently forbids an Egyptian Muslim woman, from marrying a Christian man, without the latter converting. This is absolutely disgraceful, and horrible a violation of the rights of Egyptians. Marriage is a bond of union and love based between 2 individuals, it should not be on the basis of religion, which is a personal thing. Also, Christians can convert to Islam easily, but for Muslims to convert to Christianity, it is very difficult. This violates the freedom of religion, and freedom of conscience of Egyptian only, and result in equal treatment. These freedoms are the rights of every human being under International law.

- Modifying the education curriculum, to a curriculum that educates Egyptians on all religions in fairness, equality, tolerance, and respect. And not biased to one religion or ideology. Religious education is allowed, as long as it respects all religions, and is taught in a manner of tolerance and equality. In addition strong scientific and progressive thinking must be encouraged in the curriculum.

These are some examples.

Very well said :kiss: :hug:


if you're living in Canada now you should come to Egypt to join the elections before it falls into the hands of terrorists :badnews:

The minute I finish my studies here, I will be on the first flight to Cairo. I want to get my Bachelors and Masters here first.

And until then, I will make the journey to Ottawa every election in order to vote for a Liberal, Secular party with a platfrom that appeals to me.

I agree with you Egypt69, I want to see a secular Egypt and I'm a Muslim. I want all Egyptians to feel that they're Egyptian. I don't want to see any more Christians moving to the US and complain about Egypt and that they're being treated like crap there, I want them to love their country and countrymen just as much as I do.

:hug:

See Sweden, the country you live in, raises and develops a clean mind like yours. I want to see Egypt like this. And not the current Egyptian environment which tends to develop bigoted, ignorant and naive minds.

Mohamed Ali Pasha dynasty/family were the best rulers Of Egypt.

Muhammad Ali Pasha
Often referred to as the founder of modern Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha (c. 1769–1849) was an Ottoman Turkish military leader who ruled Egypt for much of his adult life, amassing such military power that he was able to threaten the rule of the Ottoman Sultan himself.

The reforms undertaken by Muhammad Ali as he centralized his power brought the foundations of modern statehood to Egypt. He put in place a vast military and economic apparatus financed by efficient tax collections, and his armies of drafted conscripts vanquished and then permanently replaced the feuding warlord groups that had ruled much of the Middle East. Muhammad Ali modernized education, ordering the translation of European books on a large scale, vaccinated children against smallpox and offered them medical care, conducted censuses, and undertook huge public works projects that established cotton as a key Egyptian cash crop, which it remains today. Early in his career he curbed the spread of the fundamentalist Wahhabi Islam from the Arabian Peninsula.




http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-Mi-So/Pasha-Muhammad-Ali.html#ixzz1GreD4tOQ
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/muhammadali.htm

Copts in modern Egypt

The position of the Copts did not begin to improve until the rule of Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century, who abolished the Jizya and allowed Egyptians (Copts as well as Muslims) to enroll in the army. Conditions continued to improve throughout the 19th century under the leadership of the great reformer Pope Cyril IV, and in the first half of the 20th century (known as the Golden Age by the Copts) during Egypt's liberal period. Copts participated in the Egyptian national movement for independence and occupied many influential positions. Two significant cultural achievements include the founding of the Coptic Museum in 1910 and the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in 1954. Some prominent Coptic thinkers from this period are Salama Moussa, Louis Awad and Secretary General of the Wafd Party Makram Ebeid. Following the 1952 coup d'état by the Free Officers, the conditions of the Copts have been slowly deteriorating and their human rights are often violated.

:hug:

See Sweden, the country you live in, raises and develops a clean mind like yours. I want to see Egypt like this. And not the current Egyptian environment which tends to develop bigoted, ignorant and naive minds.

Unfortunately that is true, hopefully that will change. I want Egyptians to be able know their options and believe in what they want to believe in. It's God's job to judge people, not ours.

In that case let see how secular canada or sweden is, can any of you two open a university, college or whatever application form online and tell me if you find a section where it ask for your race? White, black, african, asain .. ect.

That's my answer to the religion part in the ID race might not be religion but I'm sure those application forms ask for your religion too. Anyways the point is it makes no different as long as people don't discriminate you against it. But really in egypt you can only be muslim or christian we need that to be kinda more open.

Good I agree about the secular part but let me just note one thing. You can have an Egypt that treat every citizen equally but Islamic It depend on how you view islam. My point here secular isn't the only option we need to be a bit more open minded and view all ranges of options we have although I'm personally with a secular state but really for me as long as the majority are happy I m happy :)

In that case let see how secular canada or sweden is, can any of you two open a university, college or whatever application form online and tell me if you find a section where it ask for your race? White, black, african, asain .. ect.

This question in University applications is purely for statistical purposes, and does no harm. Here in Canada, like most of the western world, everyone is equal, and we all get a chance.

For example, in Canada, when applying for a job you are not allowed to mention your race, religion, ethnicity in your CV, and the employer is not allowed to request such information for you, since people should be hired based on their qualifications, and personal abilities, and not their race or religion etc.

In Canada, we have Human Rights Commissions in each province. If I feel discriminated against by an employer for example, or if I feel that I was the target of hateful language and behavior in a shop or mall or whatever, in a minute, I can go online, and file a report with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and upon evaluation, I can have a hearing and trial and the person who discriminated against me will be punished.



Good I agree about the secular part but let me just note one thing. You can have an Egypt that treat every citizen equally but Islamic It depend on how you view islam. My point here secular isn't the only option we need to be a bit more open minded and view all ranges of options we have although I'm personally with a secular state but really for me as long as the majority are happy I m happy :)

There is no Islamic system that will guarantee the complete rights and freedoms of everyone. For example, how the Brotherhood insists that Copts and Women are not fit for presidency.

But why have an Islamic system in the first place? That's the question I'm asking. Why have a religious system, when religion is something that should not leave one's personal life, and the respective place of worship.

I want Egyptians to think of religion as a personal thing. Just like if you like Apple or Orange Juice, or if you like football instead of basketball.

If you like Apple juice and Basketball, is it fair to force EVERYONE around you to drink Apple Juice only and play Basketball only?

Deputy PM says 1971 constitution invalidated

By Marwa Al-A’sar / Daily News Egypt | March 24, 2011, 10:53 pm

CAIRO: The 1971 constitution is now null and void while the amended articles will be included at the core of a constitutional decree, Deputy Prime Minister Yehia El-Gamal said Wednesday.

In a televised interview with Dream TV’s “Al-Ashera Masa’an,” El-Gamal, also a constitutional law professor, said that the decree aimed to “chart the path of the next phase” in its entirety.

By “invalidating the legitimacy of the former regime,” the January 25 Revolution led to “what we call…revolutionary legitimacy,” El-Gamal told TV host Mona El-Shazly.

“The 1971 constitution was suspended by … the armed forces. And based on this, a referendum was held [Saturday] on the amendment of some articles,” he added.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces suspended the constitution on Feb. 13 after assuming power when former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down two days earlier.

A few days later the army formed a committee of legal experts to amend the constitution.

“The constitution was [first] suspended and now it has been terminated,” El-Gamal said.

The referendum, he added, was conducted on a number of articles that required the people’s approval before being added to a new constitution.

El-Gamal said the constitutional decree will act as a temporary constitution to run the country until a new constitution is drafted within the coming year.

The new constitution will be drafted after electing a People’s Assembly, El-Gamal said, giving no definite date as to when the constitution would be re-written.

Afterwards, a constituent assembly will be chosen by elected MPs to draft a new constitution.

“The committee will seek expert advice [if needed],” El-Gamal said. “The draft constitution will then be put to a public referendum.”

According to El-Gamal, a number of articles to be added to the decree are general constitutional principles that will not be voted on.

On Sunday, the Supreme Judicial Commission overseeing the referendum announced that 77.2 percent of over 18 million citizens who voted approved the amendments.

The Muslim Brotherhood, other Islamist groups and the remnants of Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) called for a ‘yes’ vote. Analysts believe the two groups would benefit the most from early parliamentary elections.

Reformers and most opposition parties, on the other hand, urged a ‘no’ vote saying they wanted the constitution re-written before elections.

The 1971 constitution comprised 211 articles and was adopted in 1971. It was amended three times since, in 1980, 2005 and 2007.

The recent referendum was on amendments to Articles 75, 76, 77, 88, 93, 139 and 148, the cancellation of Article 179 and the insertion of a paragraph in Article 189 and the addition of two items to it.

Most of the suggested articles have to do with legislative and presidential elections and parliamentary and presidential jurisdictions including easing restrictions on who can run for president as well as imposing presidential term limits.

The cabinet would pass five laws that complement the constitution. It approved on Wednesday a draft law easing restrictions on establishing political parties. A judicial committee formed of judges only will be in charge of receiving notifications of forming political parties.

Source: http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/deputy-pm-says-1971-constitution-invalidated.html

Very well said :kiss: :hug:


if you're living in Canada now you should come to Egypt to join the elections before it falls into the hands of terrorists :badnews:

:ohno:

Source: http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/deputy-pm-says-1971-constitution-invalidated.html

:banana:

I'm glad the people who are currently in leadership roles think like this:

gUgNntQmvF8

And for some people who claim that they are supporters of El-Baradei but don't listen (or don't want the listen) to what he says:

f4uGFoND4N4

Did you guys hear that. If we actually put article two into practice the first people that should be happy are the copts. That's not only what I'm saying, that's what the guy your dreaming of becoming president is saying.

Oh damn. How should Copts be happy with living in an Islamic state? Why in the world would people desire to deepen the growing division in Egyptian society? WHY?

WHY are people living under the mirage of an Islamic state? Something that is not EVEN mentioned in Islam nor any of its teachings? There is no such thing as an ISLAMIC STATE. A Muslim is not under any form of obligation to form and establish a state based on Islamic principles. There is simply no such thing. Stop creating useless delusions that will hamper our chances of building a country where all Egyptians live in complete freedom, and excercise the same rights.

Article 2 of the constitution should not be completely scraped at this very moment. However, it must be amended to include the rights of other religions to excercise their principles when it comes to marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc. In the future however, and as Egypt progresses, I believe Article 2 should and must be removed.

Abou Khaleel, why do you support Article 2 of the constitution? What's your logic?

9lR_kOXCsuY


المستشارة نهى الزينى: المادة الثانية "ضحك على الدقون" ولا تعبر عن هوية مصر.. واستغلالها خلال التعديلات الدستورية جعل صندوق الاستفتاء يصنع الطائفية وينشر الانقسام بين المصريين

الخميس، 24 مارس 2011 - 14:45

المستشارة نهى الزينى


كتب أحمد مصطفى
http://www.youm7.com/images/NewsPics/large/s220095123951.jpg

أكدت الدكتورة المستشارة نهى الزينى أن المادة الثانية من الدستور لا قيمة لها وهى نوع من الهزل السياسى و"ضحك على الذقون"، مضيفة أنها نوع من العبث السياسى وليست مادة هوية، وأن ما حدث مؤخراً من استغلال لها خلال التعديلات الدستورية أوصلنا إلى أن أصبح صندوق الاستفتاء يصنع الطائفية وينشر الانقسام بين المصريين.

وطالبت الزينى خلال ورشة العمل التى نظمها المركز العربى لاستقلال القضاة والمحاماة حول التعديلات الدستورية، ومبدأ المساواة بشأن تعيين المرأة فى وظيفة الإدعاء العام فى مصر، بإلغاء المادة 11 من الدستور لكونها مادة تمييزية ضد المرأة وبها نظرة استعلاء، وقالت إنه يوجد نص فى الدستور ينص على أن تكفل الدولة التوفيق بين عمل الزوج وواجباته، مشيرة إلى أن بعض تيار الاستقلال داخل القضاة كان ضد تعيين المرأة قاضيا بشكل هستيرى ومازال.

من جانبه قال الدكتور نبيل عبدالفتاح نائب مدير مركز الأهرام للدراسات السياسية والاستراتيجية إن كمية النصوص الدستورية بها الكثير من اللغط الدستورى والهوى اللغوى، مضيفاً أن العالم كله ينص على مبدأ المواطنة لكنه لا ينص عليها فى الدساتير، وأن وضع نص المواطنة فى الدستور هو من قبيل اللعب السياسى.

وشدد عبد الفتاح على أن كمية التدليس السياسى الذى تستخدمه جماعات سياسية بعينها خلقت حالة من الضبابية بين أبناء النخب ودارسى كلية الحقوق أنفسهم، حتى أصبح العديد من المتعلمين يتعرضون لموجة من التدليس والتخبط الدينى، وقال إن من يتحدثون الآن عن الهوية الدينية لا يعرف غالبيتهم السياقات التاريخية التى تغير فيها الفقه الإسلامى.

The military has issued the official constitutional declaration which will serve as an interim constitution for the next 6 months.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
إعـــــلان دستورى
المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة

بعد الاطلاع على الإعلان الدستورى الصادر فى 13 من فبراير .. وعلى نتائج الاستفتاء على تعديل دستور جمهورية مصر العربية الذي جرى يوم 19 من مارس سنة 2011 وأعلنت نتيجة الموافقة علية فى 20 من مارس سنة 2011 .. وعلى البيان الصادر من المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة فى 23 من مارس سنة 2011...

قــــــــرر

( مــــــادة 1 )
جمهورية مصر العربية دولة نظامها ديمقراطي يقوم على أساس المواطنة ، والشعب المصري جزء من الأمة العربية يعمل على تحقيق وحدتها الشاملة .

( مـــــــادة 2 )
الإسلام دين الدولة ، واللغة العربية لغتها الرسمية ، ومبادئ الشريعة الإسلامية المصدر الرئيسي للتشريع .

( مــــــادة 3 )
السيادة للشعب وحده، وهو مصدر السلطات , ويمارس الشعب هذه السيادة ويحميها , ويصون الوحدة الوطنية .

( مــــــادة 4 )
للمواطنين حق تكوين الجمعيات وإنشاء النقابات والاتحادات والأحزاب وذلك على الوجه المبين في القانون ، ويحظر إنشاء جمعيات يكون نشاطها معاديا لنظام المجتمع أو سريا أو ذا طابع عسكرى ، ولا يجوز مباشرة أى نشاط سياسى أو قيام أحزاب سياسية على أساس دينى أو بناء على التفرقة بسبب الجنس أو الأصل .

( مـــــــادة 5 )
يقوم الاقتصاد فى جمهورية مصر العربية على تنمية النشاط الاقتصادى والعدالة الاجتماعية وكفالة الأشكال المختلفة للملكية والحفاظ على حقوق العمال .

( مـــــــادة 6 )
للملكية العامة حرمة , وحمايتها ودعمها واجب على كل مواطن وفقا للقانون ، والملكية الخاصة مصونة , ولا يجوز فرض الحراسة عليها إلا فى الأحوال المبينة فى القانون وبحكم قضائى , ولا تنزع الملكية إلا للمنفعة العامة ومقابل تعويض وفقا للقانون. وحق الإرث فيها مكفول .

( مــــــادة 7 )
المواطنون لدى القانون سواء ، وهم متساوون فى الحقوق والواجبات العامة ، لا تمييز بينهم فى ذلك بسبب الجنس أو الأصل أو اللغة أو الدين أو العقيدة .

( مـــــــادة 8 )
الحرية الشخصية حق طبيعى وهى مصونة لا تمس , وفيما عدا حالة التلبس لا يجوز القبض على أحد أو تفتيشه أو حبسه أو تقييد حريته بأى قيد أو منعه من التنقل إلا بأمر تستلزمه ضرورة التحقيق وصيانة أمن المجتمع , ويصدر هذا الأمر من القاضى المختص أو النيابة العامة , وذلك وفقا لأحكام القانون ، ويحدد القانون مدة الحبس الاحتياطى .

( مــــــادة 9 )
كل مواطن يقبض عليه أو يحبس أو تقيد حريته بأى قيد تجب معاملته بما يحفظ عليه كرامة الإنسان , ولا يجوز إيذاؤه بدنيا أو معنويا , كما لا يجوز حجزه أو حبسه فى غير الأماكن الخاضعة للقوانين الصادرة بتنظيم السجون ، وكل قول يثبت أنه صدر من مواطن تحت وطأة شئ مما تقدم أو التهديد بشئ منه يهدر ولا يعول عليه.

( مـــــــادة 10 )
للمساكن حرمة فلا يجوز دخولها ولا تفتيشها إلا بأمر قضائى مسبب وفقا لأحكام القانون .

( مــــــادة 11 )
لحياة المواطنين الخاصة حرمة يحميها القانون ، وللمراسلات البريدية والبرقية والمحادثات التليفونية وغيرها من وسائل الاتصال حرمة, وسريتها مكفولة , ولا تجوز مصادرتها أو الاطلاع عليها أو رقابتها إلا بأمر قضائى مسبب ولمدة محددة ووفقا لأحكام القانون.

( مــــــادة 12 )
تكفل الدولة حرية العقيدة وحرية ممارسة الشعائر الدينية ، وحرية الرأي مكفولة , ولكل إنسان التعبير عن رأيه ونشره بالقول أو الكتابة أو التصوير أو غير ذلك من وسائل التعبير فى حدود القانون , والنقد الذاتى والنقد البناء ضمان لسلامة البناء الوطنى .

( مـــــادة 13 )
حرية الصحافة والطباعة والنشر ووسائل الإعلام مكفولة, والرقابة على الصحف محظورة, وإنذارها أو وقفها أو إلغاؤها بالطريق الإدارى محظور , ويجوز استثناء فى حالة إعلان الطوارئ أو زمن الحرب أن يفرض علي الصحف والمطبوعات ووسائل الإعلام رقابة محددة فى الأمور التى تتصل بالسلامة العامة أو أغراض الأمن القومى , وذلك كله وفقا للقانون.

( مـــــــادة 14 )
لا يجوز أن تحظر على أى مواطن الإقامة في جهة معينة ولا أن يلزم بالإقامة فى مكان معين إلا فى الأحوال المبينة فى القانون .

( مـــــــادة 15 )
لا يجوز إبعاد أى مواطن عن البلاد أو منعه من العودة إليها ، وتسليم اللاجئين السياسيين محظور.

( مـــــــادة 16 )
للمواطنين حق الاجتماع الخاص فى هدوء غير حاملين سلاحا ودون حاجة إلى إخطار سابق ، ولا يجوز لرجال الأمن حضور اجتماعاتهم الخاصة , والاجتماعات العامة والمواكب والتجمعات مباحة فى حدود القانون .

( مـــــادة 17)
كل اعتداء على الحرية الشخصية أو حرمة الحياة الخاصة للمواطنين وغيرها من الحقوق والحريات العامة التي يكفلها الدستور والقانون جريمة لا تسقط الدعوى الجنائية ولا المدنية الناشئة عنها بالتقادم , وتكفل الدولة تعويضا عادلا لمن وقع عليه الاعتداء .

( مــــــادة 18 )
إنشاء الضرائب العامة وتعديلها أو إلغاؤها لا يكون إلا بقانون . ولا يعفى أحد من أدائها إلا فى الأحوال المبينة فى القانون . ولا يجوز تكليف أحد أداء غير ذلك من الضرائب أو الرسوم إلا فى حدود القانون.

( مـــــادة 19 )
العقوبة شخصيــــــة .
لا جريمة ولا عقوبة إلا بناء على قانون , ولا توقع عقوبة إلا بحكم قضائى , ولا عقاب إلا على الأفعال اللاحقة لتاريخ نفاذ القانون .

( مــــــادة 20 )
المتهم برئ حتى تثبت إدانته فى محاكمة قانونيه تكفل له فيها ضمانات الدفاع عن نفسه , وكل متهم فى جناية يجب أن يكون له محام يدافع عنه .

( مــــــادة 21 )
التقاضى حق مصون ومكفول للناس كافة , ولكل مواطن حق الالتجاء إلى قاضيه الطبيعى , وتكفل الدولة تقريب جهات القضاء من المتقاضين وسرعة الفصل فى القضايا ، ويحظر النص فى القوانين على تحصين أى عمل أو قرار إدارى من رقابة القضاء .

( مـــــادة 22 )
حق الدفاع أصالة أو بالوكالة مكفول ، ويكفل القانون لغير القادرين مالياً وسائل الالتجاء إلى القضاء والدفاع عن حقوقهم .

( مـــــادة 23 )
يبلغ كل من يقبض عليه أو يعتقل بأسباب القبض عليه أو اعتقاله فورا , ويكون لـه حق الاتصال بمن يرى إبلاغه بما وقع أو الاستعانة به على الوجه الذي ينظمه القانون , ويجب إعلانه علي وجه السرعة بالتهم الموجهة إليه , ولـه ولغيره التظلم أمام القضاء من الإجراء الذى قيد حريته الشخصية , وينظم القانون حق التظلم بما يكفل الفصل فيه خلال مدة محددة , وإلا وجب الإفراج حتما.

( مــــــادة 24 )
تصدر الأحكام وتنفذ باسم الشعب , ويكون الامتناع عن تنفيذها أو تعطيل تنفيذها من جانب الموظفين العموميين المختصين جريمة يعاقب عليها القانون. وللمحكوم لـه فى هذه الحالة حق رفع الدعوى الجنائية مباشرة إلى المحكمة المختصة .

(مـــــادة 25 )
رئيس الدولة هو رئيس الجمهورية ، ويسهر على تأكيد سيادة الشعب وعلى احترام الدستور وسيادة القانون وحماية الوحدة الوطنية والعدالة الاجتماعية وذلك على الوجه المبين بهذا الإعلان والقانون ، ويباشر فور توليه مهام منصبه الاختصاصات المنصوص عليها بالمادة ( 56) من هذا الإعلان عدا المبين فى البندين 1 و 2 منها .

(مـــــادة 26 )
يشترط فيمن يُنتخب رئيساً للجمهورية أن يكون مصرياً من أبوين مصريين ، وأن يكون متمتعاً بحقوقه المدنية والسياسية ، وألا يكون قد حمل أو أى من والديه جنسية دولة أخرى ، وألا يكون متزوجاً من غير مصرى، وألا تقل سنه عن أربعين سنة ميلاديـة .

(مــــــادة 27 )
ينتخب رئيس الجمهورية عن طريق الاقتراع السرى العام المباشر .
ويلزم لقبول الترشيح لرئاسة الجمهورية أن يؤيد المتقدم للترشح ثلاثون عضواً على الأقل من الأعضاء المنتخبين لمجلسى الشعب أو الشورى، أو أن يحصل المرشح على تأييد ما لا يقل عن ثلاثين ألف مواطـن ممن لهم حق الانتخاب في خمس عشرة محافظة على الأقل، بحيث لا يقل عدد المؤيدين فى أى من تلك المحافظات عن ألف مؤيـد ، وفى جميع الأحوال لا يجوز أن يكون التأييد لأكثر من مرشح، وينظم القانون الإجراءات الخاصة بذلك كله ، ولكل حزب من الأحزاب السياسية التي حصل أعضاؤها على مقعد على الأقل بطريق الانتخاب فى أى من مجلسى الشعب والشورى فى أخر انتخابات أن يرشح أحد أعضائه لرئاسة الجمهورية .

(مـــادة 28 )
تتولى لجنة قضائية عليا تسمى " لجنة الانتخابات الرئاسية " الإشراف على انتخابات رئيس الجمهورية بدءاً من الإعلان عن فتح باب الترشيح وحتى إعلان نتيجة الانتخاب ، وتـُشكل اللجنة من رئيس المحكمة الدستورية العليا رئيساً ، وعضوية كل من رئيس محكمة إستئناف القاهرة ، وأقدم نواب رئيس المحكمة الدستورية العليا ، وأقدم نواب رئيس محكمة النقض ، وأقدم نواب رئيس مجلس الدولـة .
وتكون قرارات اللجنة نهائية ونافذة بذاتها ، غير قابلة للطعن عليها بأى طريق وأمام أية جهة، كما لا يجوز التعرض لقراراتها بوقف التنفيذ أو الإلغاء ، كما تفصل اللجنة فى اختصاصها ، و يحدد القانون الاختصاصات الأخرى للجنـة .
وتـُشكل لجنة الانتخابات الرئاسية اللجان التى تتولى الإشراف على الاقتراع والفرز على النحو المبين فى المادة 39 ، ويُعرض مشروع القانون المنظم للانتخابات الرئاسية على المحكمة الدستورية العليا قبل إصداره لتقرير مدى مطابقته للدستـور .
وتـُصـدر المحكمة الدستورية العليا قرارها فى هذا الشأن خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ عرض الأمر عليها، فإذا قررت المحكمة عدم دستورية نص أو أكثر وجب إعمال مقتضى قرارها عند إصدار القانون، وفى جميع الأحوال يكون قرار المحكمة ملزماً للكافة ولجميع سلطات الدولة، ويُنشـر فى الجريدة الرسمية خلال ثلاثة أيام من تاريخ صدوره .

(مـــــادة 29 )
مدة الرئاسة أربع سنوات ميلادية تبدأ من تاريخ إعلان نتيجة الانتخاب ، ولا يجوز إعادة انتخاب رئيس الجمهورية إلا لمدة واحدة تاليـة .

(مـــــادة 30 )
يؤدى الرئيس أمام مجلس الشعب قبل أن يباشر مهام منصبه اليمين الآتية :-
" أقسم بالله العظيم أن أحافظ مخلصاً على النظام الجمهورى ، وأن أحترم الدستور والقانون ، وأن أرعى مصالح الشعب رعاية كاملة ، وأن أحافظ على استقلال الوطن وسلامة أراضيه " .

(مــــــــــادة 31 )
يعين رئيس الجمهورية ، خلال ستين يوماً على الأكثر من مباشرته مهام منصبه ، نائباً لـه أو أكثر ويحدد اختصاصاته ، فإذا اقتضت الحال إعفاءه من منصبه وجب أن يعين غيره ، وتسرى الشروط الواجب توافرها فى رئيس الجمهورية والقواعد المنظمة لمساءلته على نواب رئيس الجمهورية .

( مـــــادة 32 )
يُشكل مجلس الشعب من عدد من الأعضاء يحدده القانون على ألا يقل عن ثلاثمائة وخمسين عضوا، نصفهم على الأقل من العمال والفلاحين ، ويكون إنتخابهم عن طريق الانتخاب المباشر السرى العام .. ويبين القانون تعريف العامل والفلاح، ويحدد الدوائر الانتخابية التى تقسم إليها الدولة ، ويجوز لرئيس الجمهورية أن يعين فى مجلس الشعب عدداً من الأعضاء لا يزيد على عشرة .

( مـــــادة 33 )
يتولى مجلس الشعب فور انتخابه سلطة التشريع , ويقرر السياسة العامة للدولة , والخطة العامة للتنمية الاقتصادية والاجتماعية , والموازنة العامة للدولة , كما يمارس الرقابة على أعمال السلطة التنفيذية .

( مـــــادة 34 )
مدة مجلس الشعب خمس سنوات ميلادية من تاريخ أول اجتماع له .

(مــــادة 35 )
يشكل مجلس الشورى من عدد من الأعضاء يحدده القانون على ألا يقل عن مائة واثنين وثلاثين عضواً ، وينتخب ثلثا أعضاء المجلس بالاقتراع المباشر السرى العام على أن يكون نصفهم على الأقل من العمال والفلاحين، ويعين رئيس الجمهورية الثلث الباقى .
ويحدد القانون الدوائر الانتخابية الخاصة بمجلس الشورى .

(مـــــادة 36 )
مدة عضوية مجلس الشورى ست سنوات .

(مـــــادة 37 )
يتولى مجلس الشورى فور إنتخابه دراسة وإقتراح ما يراه كفيلا بالحفاظ على دعم الوحدة الوطنية والسلام الإجتماعى وحماية المقومات الأساسية للمجتمع وقيمه العليا والحقوق والحريات والواجبات العامة ويجب اخذ رأى المجلس فيما يلى :
1ـ مشروع الخطة العامة للتنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية.
2ـ مشروعات القوانين التي يحيلها إليه رئيس الجمهورية.
3ـ ما يحيله رئيس الجمهورية إلى المجلس من موضوعات تتصل بالسياسة العامة للدولة
أو بسياستها فى الشئون العربية أو الخارجية.
ويبلغ المجلس رأيه فى هذه الأمور إلى رئيس الجمهورية ومجلس الشعب .

(مـــــادة 38 )
ينظم القانون حق الترشيح لمجلسى الشعب والشورى وفقا لأى نظام انتخابى يحدده . ويجوز أن يتضمن حدا أدنى لمشاركة المرأة فى المجلسين .

(مــــادة 39 )
يحدد القانون الشروط الواجب توافرها فى أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى ، ويبين أحكام الانتخاب والاستفتاء .. وتتولى لجنة عليا ذات تشكيل قضائى كامل الإشراف على الانتخاب والاستفتاء ، بدءاً من القيد بجداول الانتخاب وحتى إعلان النتيجة ، وذلك كله على النحو الذى ينظمه القانون .ويجرى الاقتراع والفرز تحت إشراف أعضاء من هيئات قضائية ترشحهم مجالسها العليا ، ويصدر باختيارهم قرار من اللجنة العليا.

(مـــــادة 40 )
تختص محكمة النقض بالفصل فى صحة عضوية أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى ، وتقدم الطعون إلى المحكمة خلال مدة لا تجاوز ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ إعلان نتيجة الانتخاب ، وتفصل المحكمة فى الطعن خلال تسعين يوماً من تاريخ وروده إليها ، وتعتبر العضوية باطلة من تاريخ إبلاغ المجلسين بقرار المحكمـة

(مــــادة 41 )
تبدأ إجراءات انتخاب مجلسى الشعب والشورى خلال ستة أشهر من تاريخ العمل بهذا الإعلان ، ويمارس مجلس الشورى اختصاصاته بأعضائه المنتخبين ، ويتولى رئيس الجمهورية فور انتخابه استكمال تشكيل المجلس بتعيين ثلث أعضائه ، ويكون تعيين هؤلاء لاستكمال المدة الباقيـة للمجلس على النحو المبين بالقانون .

(مـــــادة 42 )
يقسم كل عضو من أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى أمام مجلسه قبل أن يباشر عمله اليمين الآتية :
" أقسم بالله العظيم أن أحافظ مخلصاً على سلامة الوطن والنظام الجمهورى ، وأن أرعى مصالح الشعب ، وأن أحترم الدستور والقانون " .

(مـــــادة 43 )
لا يجوز لكل عضو من أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى أثناء مدة عضويته أن يشترى أو يستأجر شيئا من أموال الدولة , أو أن يؤجرها أو يبيعها شيئا من أمواله أو أن يقايضها عليه , أو أن يبرم مع الدولة عقدا بوصفه ملتزما أو موردا أو مقاولاُ.

( مــــادة 44 )
لا يجوز إسقاط عضوية أحد أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى إلا إذا فقد الثقة والاعتبار , أو فقد أحد شروط العضوية أو صفة العامل أو الفلاح التي انتخب علي أساسها , أو أخل بواجبات عضويته . ويجب أن يصدر قرار إسقاط العضوية من المجلس بأغلبية ثلثى أعضائه .

(مــــادة 45 )
لا يجوز فى غير حالة التلبس بالجريمة اتخاذ أية إجراءات جنائية ضد أحد أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى إلا بإذن سابق من مجلسه ، وفى غير دور انعقاد المجلس يتعين أخذ إذن رئيس المجلس ، ويخطر المجلس عند أول انعقاد له بما اتخذ من إجراء .

( مـــــادة 46 )
السلطة القضائية مستقلة ، وتتولاها المحاكم على اختلاف أنواعها ودرجاتها، وتصدر أحكامها وفق القانون .

( مـــــادة 47 )
القضاة مستقلون وغير قابلين للعزل وينظم القانون مساءلتهم تأديبياً، ولا سلطان عليهم فى قضائهم لغير القانون، ولا يجوز لأية سلطة التدخل فى القضايا أو فى شئون العدالة .

( مــــادة 48 )
مجلس الدولة هيئة قضائية مستقلة ، ويختص بالفصل فى المنازعات الإدارية وفى الدعاوى التأديبية ، ويحدد القانون اختصاصاته الأخرى .

( مـــــادة 49 )
المحكمة الدستورية العليا هيئة قضائية مستقلة قائمة بذاتها، وتختص دون غيرها بالرقابة القضائية على دستورية القوانين واللوائح، وتتولى تفسير النصوص التشريعية، وذلك كله على الوجه المبين فى القانون .. ويعين القانون الاختصاصات الأخرى للمحكمة وينظم الإجراءات التى تتبع أمامها.

( مـــــادة 50 )
يحدد القانون الهيئات القضائية واختصاصاتها، وينظم طريقة تشكيلها ، ويبين شروط وإجراءات تعيين أعضائها ونقلهم .

( مـــــادة 51 )
ينظم القانون القضاء العسكرى ويبين اختصاصاته فى حدود المبادئ الدستورية .

( مـــــادة 52 )
جلسات المحاكم علنية إلا إذا قررت المحكمة جعلها سرية مراعاة للنظام العام أو الآداب , وفى جميع الأحوال يكون النطق بالحكم فى جلسة علنية .

( مـــــادة 53 )
القوات المسلحة ملك للشعب, مهمتها حماية البلاد وسلامة أراضيها وأمنها , ولا يجوز لأية هيئة أو جماعه إنشاء تشكيلات عسكرية أو شبه عسكرية , والدفاع عن الوطن وأرضه واجب مقدس , والتجنيد إجبارى وفقاً للقانون .. ويبين القانون شروط الخدمة والترقية فى القوات المسلحة .

( مـــــادة 54 )
ينشأ مجلس يسمى " مجلس الدفاع الوطنى " ويتولى رئيس الجمهورية رئاسته، ويختص بالنظر فى الشئون الخاصة بوسائل تأمين البلاد وسلامتها، ويبين القانون إختصاصاته الأخرى .

( مـــــادة 55 )
الشرطة هيئة مدنية نظامية ، تؤدى واجبها فى خدمة الشعب ، وتكفل للمواطنين الطمأنينة والأمن ، وتسهر على حفظ النظام والأمن العام والآداب وفقاً للقانون .

( مـــــادة 56 )
يتولى المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة إدارة شئون البلاد، ولـه فى سبيل ذلك مباشرة السلطات الآتية :
1ـ التشريع .
2ـ إقرار السياسة العامة للدولة والموازنة العامة ومراقبة تنفيذها .
3ـ تعيين الأعضاء المعينين فى مجلس الشعب .
4ـ دعوة مجلسى الشعب والشورى لانعقاد دورته العادية وفضها والدعوة لإجتماع غير عادى وفضه .
5ـ حق إصدار القوانين أو الاعتراض عليها .
6ـ تمثيل الدولة فى الداخل والخارج، وإبرام المعاهدات والاتفاقيات الدولية ، وتعتبر جزءاً من النظام القانونى فى الدولة .
7ـ تعيين رئيس مجلس الوزراء ونوابه والوزراء ونوابهم وإعفاؤهم من مناصبهم .
8ـ تعيين الموظفين المدنيين والعسكريين والممثلين السياسيين وعزلهم على الوجه المبين فى القانون، واعتماد ممثلى الدول الأجنبية السياسيين .
9ـ العفو عن العقوبة أو تخفيفها أما العفو الشامل فلا يكون إلا بقانون .
10ـ السلطات والاختصاصات الأخرى المقررة لرئيس الجمهورية بمقتضى القوانين واللوائح .
وللمجلس أن يفوض رئيسه أو أحد أعضائه فى أى من اختصاصاته .

( مـــــادة 57 )
يتولى مجلس الوزراء والوزراء السلطة التنفيذية كل فيما يخصه ، وللمجلس على الأخص مباشرة الاختصاصات الآتية :
1ـ الاشتراك مع المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة فى وضع السياسة العامة للدولة , والإشراف على تنفيذها وفقا للقوانين والقرارات الجمهورية.
2ـ توجيه وتنسيق ومتابعة أعمال الوزارات والجهات التابعة لها والهيئات والمؤسسات العامة.
3ـ إصدار القرارات الإدارية والتنفيذية وفقا للقوانين واللوائح والقرارات ومراقبة تنفيذها.
4ـ إعداد مشروعات القوانين واللوائح والقرارات .
5ـ إعداد مشروع الموازنة العامة للدولة.
6ـ إعداد مشروع الخطة العامة للدولة.
7ـ عقد القروض ومنحها وفقا للمبادئ الدستورية.
8ـ ملاحظة تنفيذ القوانين والمحافظة على أمن الدولة وحماية حقوق المواطنين ومصالح الدولة.

( مـــــادة 58 )
لا يجوز للوزير أثناء تولى منصبه أن يزاول مهنة حرة أو عملا تجاريا أو ماليا
أو صناعياً, أو أن يشترى أو يستأجر شيئا من أموال الدولة , أو أن يؤجرها أو يبيعها شيئا من أمواله , أو أن يقايضها عليه .

(مـــــادة 59 )
يعلن رئيس الجمهورية، بعد أخذ رأى مجلس الوزراء، حالة الطوارئ على الوجه المبين فى القانون ويجب عرض هذا الإعلان على مجلس الشعب خلال السبعة أيام التالية ليقرر ما يراه بشأنه ، فإذا تم الإعلان فى غير دور الانعقاد وجبت دعوة المجلس للانعقاد فوراً للعرض عليه وذلك بمراعاة الميعاد المنصوص عليه فى الفقرة السابقة ، وإذا كان مجلس الشعب منحلاً يعرض الأمر على المجلس الجديد فى أول اجتماع له ، ويجب موافقة أغلبية أعضاء مجلس الشعب على إعلان حالة الطوارئ ، وفى جميع الأحوال يكون إعلان حالة الطوارئ لمدة محددة لا تجاوز ستة أشهر ولا يجوز مدها إلا بعد استفتاء الشعب وموافقته على ذلك .

(مـــــادة 60 )
يجتمع الأعضاء غير المعينين لأول مجلسى شعب وشورى فى اجتماع مشترك ، بدعوة من المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة ، خلال ستة أشهر من انتخابهم ، لإنتخاب جمعية تأسيسية من مائة عضو ، تتولى إعداد مشروع دستور جديد للبلاد فى موعد غايته ستة أشهر من تاريخ تشكيلها، ويُعرض المشروع ، خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من إعداده ، على الشعب لاستفتائه فى شأنه ، ويعمل بالدستور من تاريخ إعلان موافقة الشعب عليه فى الاستفتاء .

(مــــادة 61 )
يستمر المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة فى مباشرة الاختصاصات المحددة فى هذا الإعلان وذلك لحين تولى كل من مجلسى الشعب والشورى لاختصاصاتهما , وحتى انتخاب رئيس الجمهورية ومباشرته مهام منصبه كلُ فى حينه.

(مـــــادة 62 )
كل ما قررته القوانين واللوائح من أحكام قبل صدور هذا الإعلان الدستورى يبقى صحيحا ونافذا ، ومع ذلك يجوز إلغاؤها أو تعديلها وفقا للقواعد والإجراءات المقررة فى هذا الإعلان .

(مـــــادة 63 )
ينشر هذا الإعلان فى الجريدة الرسمية ويعمل به من اليوم التالى لتاريخ نشره .

Look at article 2 :cripes:

Seriously? Sharia? :cripes:

Yes, there has been no change to article 2 for the time being.

It's sad to see they havent changed the first 4 articles from the old constitution, Article 2 :bash:

But look at the larger picture:

* The Shura council's powers were reduced. Its term will be 6 years
* The 50% labor and farmers in the parliament representation is still there.
* The parliamentary term will be 5 years.
* The president will be obliged to appoint a VP in 60 days of the start of his presidential term.
* Article "4" : The freedom of having unions , syndications and parties according to Law , parties based on racial or religious background are not allowed.
* Article "5" : All source of ownerships are supported in Egypt , our economy is based on economic activity and social justice. The rights of labor preserved.
* Article "7" : All citizens are equal in front of the law , equal in duties and rights regardless of gender , religion and race.
* Article "8" : Personal freedom is a natural right ,according to the law court order or prosecutor's order is needed for arrest or detention or inspection.
* Article "9" : If a person is detained or imprisoned , he or she shall not be abused physically or emotionally and anything he or she says anything in previous circumstances or under a threat will be null.
* Article "10" : Houses shall not be inspected without a court order based on legal reasons.
* Article "12" : The state protests and supports the freedom of belief and expression. Freedom of expression is allowed in the limits of the laws.
* In fact articles 8 to 17 deal with personal rights and human rights , they are great.
* The rest of articles deal with the presidential powers , parliamentary powers.


* Article No.4 is good for unions and parties, of course the Muslim brotherhood will have a hard time because the parties law and also constitutional declaration make it clear : No for parties based on religious background.
* Article No.5 describes the economic nature of Egypt , I like the parts about labor rights and social justice.
* Articles No.8 to 17 are great and we need to remind the AFC and police with articles day and night.
* Article No.21 makes it clear that civilians have their own civilian court so the military tribunals for civilians are non constitutional now.
* Article No.51 needs to be explained , it deals with the military law.
* Article No.54 speaks about a new security council : The defense security council , I do not know what difference between it and between the current the national security council we have now is!!
* Article No.56 is quite controversial because it deals with the powers of the army council , the army council has got all the powers of the president. Some people will not like but let's be frank here that we will not be able to change these powers except when we have a parliament and constitution. The only way we can be sure that the army does not abuse these powers is to be very careful and to be awake for the army.


BUT REMEMBER. It's only temproary untill the parliament is elected!