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In Egypt, Big Win For Constitutional Amendments May Boost Muslim Brotherhood

By Howard M. Friedman

The New York Times reported that 77.2% of Egyptian voters approved the country's proposed constitutional amendments in a referendum election held Sunday. 41% of all eligible voters turned out at the polls. Those in the more liberal wings of Egyptian politics say that the vote means early elections can be called. This favors the Muslim Brotherhood and former President Mubarak's party-- the only two parties that are well-organized at this point.  Opponents that urged a "no" vote on the constitutional amendments in order to give new parties more time to organize say that religious appeals played a part in the referendum election campaign. Some say that religious organizations told their followers that a vote against the proposed amendments would threaten Article 2 of the Constitution that provides for Islam as the official state religion and Islamic law as  the principal source of civil legislation. Reuters reports that many Egyptian Christians voted against the proposed amendments, fearing that rapid elections will encourage the rise to power of Islamist groups. Many Coptic Christians were disappointed that the proposed constitutional amendments do not eliminate Article 2 of the Constitution.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 21, 2011 (boomark / email).