An initial draft of the amendments had first been introduced by the coalition in support of egypt, a parliamentary bloc aligned with the government, on february 3. Amid fierce debate over egypt s draft constitution, fikra forum editors asked egyptian human rights experts hafez abu saeda and magdi khalil to analyze the draft with respect to human rights, religious freedom, and democratic values. Egypts draft constitution translated egypt independent. Violations targeting the media and freedom of expression. Nov 29, 2012 the constituent assembly tasked with drafting egypt s postrevolution constitution was expected to pass its draft document on thursday as the country continued to reel from a presidential decree. The new constitution of egypt is on the verge of being drafted.
The new draft constitution reverses the islamization direction of the 2012 constitution. New constitution of egypt pdf new constitution of egypt pdf download. The 1919 revolution that had rid egypt and the egyptians of the british protection, established the principle of citizenship and equality for all the people. Meanwhile, some of the previously mentioned documents showed effort in the presentation of the features of the states political system and identity in the new constitution, and ranged from a civil democratic system to a modern one respecting citizenship. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt refworld. Nov 30, 2012 constitution preamble we, the people of egypt, in the name of the merciful god and with his aid, declare this to be our constitution, the document of the 25th of january revolution, which was started by our youth, embraced by our people, supported by our armed forces. An examination of egypts draft constitution part ii. Mohamed morsi signs egypts new constitution into law. Egypts constitution draft based on islam egypts muslim brotherhoodled government is suggesting that the countrys new constitution be based on the principles of islam. In line with international law, amnesty international opposes the trials of civilians by military courts on the basis that they are fundamentally unfair. Constitution preamble we, the people of egypt, in the name of god and with the assistance of god, declare this to be egypt s constitution and the document of the pioneering, peaceful revolution, which was started by egypt s promising youth, protected by the armed forces, championed by the patient egyptians who gathered. The procedures for the choice of a new president of the republic shall begin sixty. The new egyptian constitution, despite being written after january 25 revolution and 40 years.
Egypt s new draft constitution reflects the coalition of leftist political parties and entrenched state actors that helped oust president muhammad morsi from power in july. Mar 12, 2012 with parliamentary elections now complete, egypt moves to the next major step in its fitful political transition drafting a new constitution for the republic. Proposed amendments to the constitution, october 20 article 19 free word centre, 60 farringdon rd, london ec1r 3ga. President mohamed morsi then announced a national referendum will be held on december 15. There is a markedly higher prevalence among women and girls living in upper egypt than among those living in lower egypt and the urban governorates. Nov 30, 2012 whether a draft constitution approved by an assembly will move egypt toward being a freer and more open society is still in question, experts say. Article 4 of the new constitution gives the islamic scholars of alazhar a right to be consulted on questions of islamic law. Every draft law shall be referred to one of the committees of the assembly. Law on the the preference of the egyptian products in government contracts law no. Egyptian assembly expected to approve draft constitution. Egyptian assembly passes draft constitution despite protests. Draft dated 2 december 20 of the constitution of the arab republic of egypt prepared pursuant to article 29 of the constitutional declaration dated 8 july 20 unofficial translation prepared by international idea.
Voting for expatriates had been delayed until 12 december 2012 and was extended until 17 december 2012. The draft budget is to be presented to the house of representatives at least. We are drafting a constitution that maintains our freedom and. The current draft has been submitted to president mohamed morsy, who in turn will put it up for a referendum, the conditions of which remain unknown in the wake of a recent crisis between the president and the judiciary. On december 1, a 50member panel given the task of amending egypt s constitution approved a draft of the document. In the short run, the strength of this coalition and its. Aug 23, 20 following days of quite debatable leaks, the first draft of the suggested amendments to egypt s suspended 2012 constitution, which was effectively drafted by the muslim brotherhood and islamists, has finally come to light the proposed amendments are the result of the work of a 10person committee of judicial experts and members of the judiciary, all chosen by the legal. The arab republic of egypt draft constitution 20 new. However, some ignored declaring the system of the state. It replaced the 2011 provisional constitution of egypt, adopted in 2011. Voters were asked whether they approve of the draft constitution that was approved by the constituent assembly on 30. The bbc news website looks at the key changes in the new draft egyptian constitution presented for approval to the interim president, adly mansour.
Egypt s constitution committee met in cairo on thursday for a vote on the draft. Islamists unilaterally pass draft constitution in egypt cnn. Overview under the draft of the data protection law, which is expected to pass in 2019, the following are excluded from the laws scope. Nov 30, 2012 new york the final draft of a constitution approved on november 29, 2012, by egypts 100member constituent assembly protects some rights but undermines others. Dec 01, 2012 after long hours of articlebyarticle voting on the egyptian constitution by the constituent assembly, the draft was passed on early friday. In the short run, the strength of this coalition and its ability to achieve a convincing mandate in the january constitutional referendum will determine whether the. Protests after constitution draft approved an egyptian panel rushes through a draft constitution seen as undermining basic freedoms, resulting in mass protests in cairo.
New constitution draft process in egypt eyewitness news. The proposal was subsequently referred to the general committee of the house of representatives and approved on february 5. Egypts new constitution limits fundamental freedoms and. Egypt s constitution draft based on islam egypt s muslim brotherhoodled government is suggesting that the countrys new constitution be based on the principles of islam.
This statement is being released as the formal deadline for the referendum on the new constitution of egypt, 15 december 2012, is just. On april 16, 2019, 531 members of egypt s house of representatives voted to approve a set of constitutional amendments to the countrys 2014 constitution. Draft constitution, january 2014 article 19 free word centre, 60 farringdon rd, london ec1r 3ga. We are drafting a constitution that holds all of us equal in rights and duties without discrimination of any kind. The constitution of the arab republic of egypt was the former fundamental law of egypt. Dec 4, 20 earlier this week, egypt s committee of 50, its constituent assembly charged with amending the suspended 2012 constitution, finished its work and submitted its draft constitution to interim president adly mansour for his eventual adoption and holding of a national referendum. This referendum, assuming the draft remains as is and is not amended once more a difficult possibility. This document has been recompiled and reformatted using texts collected in international ideas. The great egyptian people have regained their freedom and dignity, and here they are now, going forth toward a new tomorrow, more firmly joined to the historical. It includes 231 articles, and includes most of the sections that one would expect such as fundamental rights, separation of powers, and decentralisation. The constituent assembly announced wednesday that it has finished the first draft of the new constitution and launched the know your constitution campaign to encourage community dialogue to familiarize citizens with the draft articles.
Additionally, a newly adopted law grants military officers the right to arrest civilians. The meeting took place after delegates from the secular parties had walked out. From the age of natya shastra pdf in hindi maturity to the age of. The draft constitution ended egypt s allpowerful presidency, instituted a stronger parliament, and contained provisions against torture or detention without trial. Although the final constitution draft does not undermine social, political, and cultural rights on the basis of gender, it does not attempt to affirm and enforce full equality and does not contain positive discrimination articles for women. But it also gave egypt s generals much of the power and privilege they had during the hosni mubarak era. While the new constitution does not make egypt a parliamentary system, it does give the parliament more authority. Dec 04, 2012 introduction on december 1, 2012, egyptian president muhammad mursi announced that egypt s new constitution would be put to referendum on december 15. Egypt s controversial new constitution has been signed into law by president mohammed morsi, a day after he announced it had been approved by a. In the case of egypt, military trials breach a number of fair trial safeguards, including the right to. Yesterday, the draft was rushed through a plenary session of the assembly, with no time for real debate or objections from the members. Egypt in general, and the christian coptic minority in particular, but was deemed as the lesser evil. Nov 30, 2012 egyptian assembly passes draft constitution despite protests.
Indepth analysis of the main elements of the new constitution abstract despite cautious liberalisation in a few limited areas, egypt s new constitution of january 2014 does not represent a new democratic departure. Egyptian human rights experts analyze the draft constitution. Egyptian assembly passes draft constitution despite. Its leader, saad zaghloul, and his successor, mosfata elnahhas, in adopting democracy asserted that right is above power and the nation is above government. The president shall submit the draft law regulating the presidential election to the. As egypt prepares to vote on a constitution that could prove economically ruinous or, at best, ineffectual, washington and its regional allies should discuss ways of encouraging cairo to pursue muchneeded reforms. Reading egypts draft constitution the new york times. A constitutional referendum was held in egypt in two rounds on 15 and 22 december 2012.
The draft of the new constitution promoted by the deposed president morsi and his people, left article 2 in its previous version according to the 1980 amendment, but an extremely significant article was added article 219 to the constitution s. The arab republic of egypt is an independent, united sovereign state that cannot be. Public consultations leading to the referendum were selective and weak. Restrictions on the media include interference in the editorial policies of. Egypts government services portal laws and constitution. Following rising agitations against britain, which had governed the territory as a protectorate since 1914, and increasing demands for independence, british rule over the territory was formally terminated under the terms of a joint declaration between britain and egypt in 1922. New constitution of egypt pdf this is our constitution, egypt is the gift of the nile for egyptians and the gift of. The panel writing egypt s new constitution released a partial draft of the document on wednesday, calling for a public debate in the face of mounting criticism over islamists shaping of the. December 1, 20, is meant to replace egypt s 2012 constitution, which was written by an islamist majority and approved by a december 2012 referendum with 63 percent of the vote. The report of the parliaments legislative committee has embedded the final legal context of the proposed constitutional amendments, including adding 10 new articles and amending 14 others, while an article was added to repeal the titles of two chapters of the constitution. The rule of the muslim brotherhood the struggle for the. Egypt s recently finalised draft charter introduced a large number of new articles to, as well as omitted others from, the controversial 2012 constitution predominantly drafted by the islamist. A promise of a new dawn worthy of egypts history and civilization, the.
The proposed changes to egypts constitution al jazeera. Mei spoke with its senior fellow, khalil alanani, about the draft, how it differs from the 2012 constitution passed under mohamed morsi, and how the muslim. Samuel tadros cairoegypts islamist president mohamed morsis latest constitutional declaration removing legal oversight and restraint on his powers has been met with a storm of controversy and protests. A simple majority is required for the amendments to go into effect. It now goes to interim president adly mansour for his approval and will then go to the public in a referendum. Nov 30, 2012 egypts constitution committee met in cairo on thursday for a vote on the draft. Oct 28, 20 if its wording is written into the draft of egypt s new constitution, all hope is lost for a modern renaissance sought by the uprising of january 2011.
Statement on the freedom of expression and information provisions in the draft egyptian constitution. To that end, the values of tolerance and moderation. Egypt president mohammed morsis powers could be limited if the draft constitution is approved. With parliamentary elections now complete, egypt moves to the next major step in its fitful political transition drafting a new constitution for the republic. Moreover, the rights set out in the draft constitution continue to be. The amendments will next be voted on in a national referendum slated to take place april 1921 for egyptians abroad and april 2022 domestically. Dec 03, 20 the bbc news website looks at the key changes in the new draft egyptian constitution presented for approval to the interim president, adly mansour. Blessed with a unique location and history, the arab nation of egypt is the heart of. Personal data that natural persons hold and process for personal purposes. The new draft constitution has removed language and articles favored by the islamists. Egypts new draft constitution reflects the coalition of leftist political parties and entrenched state actors that helped oust president muhammad morsi from power in july. Egypts constitution draft based on islam middle east. It was signed into law by president mohamed morsi on 26 december 2012, after it was approved by the constituent assembly on 30 november 2012 and passed in a referendum held 1522 december 2012 with 64% support, and a turnout of 33%.
The constitutional history of modern egypt can be traced back to the egyptian revolution of 1919. Egyptians living abroad were scheduled to vote between 8 and 11 december. Morsis acceleration of the constitution writing process. The selection process of a new president of the republic shall start sixty days before the. I renew my call for opening a serious national dialogue over the concerns of the nation, with all honesty and impartiality, to end the transitional period as soon as possible, in a way that guarantees the newlyborn democracy. Personal data processed for the national census or legal compliance. The new constitution will guide all egyptian institutions and it should set out the vision for the new egypt one based on human rights and the rule of law. New york the final draft of a constitution approved on november 29, 2012, by egypt s 100member constituent assembly protects some rights but undermines others. Constitution preamble we, the people of egypt, in the name of the merciful god and with his aid, declare this to be our constitution, the document of the 25th of january revolution, which was started by our youth, embraced by our people, supported by our armed forces. Hafez abu saeda is the head of the egyptian organization for human rights and magdi khalil is the executive director of the middle east freedom forum. More striking still, article 219 adds a gloss to the term. Transitioning from islamic to more civil orientation.
Egypts constituent assembly passed a draft constitution on november 30. Article 198 of new constitution, passed in december 2012, explicitly allows for military trials of civilians. The new constitution limits the president to two fouryear terms. Introduction on december 1, 2012, egyptian president muhammad mursi announced that egypt s new constitution would be put to referendum on december 15. Uncertain outcomes executive summary and key recommendations egypt has struggled under both the ruling of the supreme council of the armed forces scaf and president morsi to find its way to a new constitution that complies with international rule of law and human rights standards. Statement on the freedom of expression and information. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt,22 september 1971, available at. In order to support the forthcoming work of the drafters, article 19 has produced a comprehensive policy brief outlining how the new constitution should protect the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information. A woman in cairo casts her vote on egypt s new constitution, jan. This is our constitution, egypt is the gift of the nile for egyptians and the gift of egyptians to humanity. In january 2014, article 19 analysed draft constitution of the arab republic of egypt of 2 december 20 draft constitution from the perspective of international human rights standards, in particular on freedom of expression and freedom of information.
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