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| Nour Party will reconsider roadmap if 'Islamic identity' in constitution is amended |
| 2013-08-09 |
| [Al Ahram] The Salafist Nour Party spokesperson Nader Bakkar said in a televised interview with CNN on Thursday that his party will reconsider the new political roadmap if the "Islamic identity of the state" in Egypt's constitution is amended. In the 2012 constitution, Article 221 of the draft charter states that the term "principles of Islamic Sharia" -- mentioned in Article 2 of the constitution as the "main source of legislation" -- basically refers to the Islamic jurisprudence followed by the four main schools of Sunni Islam. The Nour Party successfully campaigned for changing Article 221 from how it was formulated in the 1971 constitution, which left the "principles of Islamic Sharia" more vague and did not limit it to the four main schools of Sunni Islam. Bakkar confirmed during the interview that all those participating in setting the new roadmap have agreed that the Islamic identity of the state will be preserved. On July 3 military commander-in-chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi unveiled a new roadmap for Egypt's political future proposed by the opposition, which included the removal of President Mohamed Morsi to make way for prompt presidential elections. The new roadmap was announced in the presence and approval of several political figures, including a member of the Nour Party. The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II were also present. The roadmap also involved empowering the head of Egypt's High Constitutional Court (HCC) with presidential authority until a new president is elected via early presidential elections, forming a new government and a committee to amend controversial articles of the temporarily suspended constitution. |
| Posted by:Fred |