While a brutal fight has emerged between Militant Shia forces led by Iran and Sunni militants led various al-Qaeda factions for control of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, an island of sanity has emerged in The Middle east besides Israel and Jordan. In Egypt under General Sisi, they not only removed the Muslim Brotherhood and are cooperating with Israel over security in the Sinai, the Egyptian people did something not seen in the region.
Unlike other nations in the region which are turning to Sharia law, the Egyptian Junta with the backing of the people have set up a genuinely Secular Constitution. The Egyptian people voted overwhelmingly for a Secular government that protects the rights of women and Non-Muslims.
by Kirsten Powers
Egypt made history over the weekend. For the first time, this ancient society has a constitution that protects the rights of women, bans religious discrimination and provides the framework for a government with more secular values. This stands in stark contrast to Egypt’s previous constitutions.
The country’s elections commission announced Saturday that the groundbreaking constitution was approved by 98.1% of voters. Presidential and parliamentary elections are slated to be held in the coming months. What should be a moment of celebration by Egypt’s friends has instead invited withering criticism and calls to abandon this important U.S. ally at a critical moment in their history.
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Amr Moussa, the president of the committee that drafted the new constitution, expressed frustration with how the historic nature of this referendum is being ignored in the West. He told me in an interview, “This is the first time that women have full political, social and economic rights and can hold all government positions. The right of belief is now absolute. The right to express yourself freely [is protected]. This is all new.”
These rights are fundamental to democracy and were absent in the previous “democratic” Morsi constitution.
Dr. Mona Makram-Ebeid, a former member of Egypt’s parliament and a professor at the American University in Cairo, told me, “Women are making history in Egypt. This referendum propelled women into the mainstream of political life. For the first time it says in the constitution there is equality between men and women. It condemns any violence against women, which includes domestic violence.”
General Sisi should go down as a hero for what he is doing in Egypt.
Tags: General Sisi, Kirsten Powers
