Amidst strong protests, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has announced a snap referendum on the new constitution drafted by the, Muslim brotherhood dominated, constituent assembly.
Morsi, who recently triggered a crisis by granting himself sweeping powers over the judiciary and allowing the constitution to be tailored by an islamist-dominated assembly, attempted to make amends by calling for a referendum on the 15th December.
Commenting on the referendum announced by the assembly, protestor Sayed el-Erian said,
“We fundamentally reject the referendum and constituent assembly because the assembly does not represent all sections of society.”
A university professor, Mustafa Kamel el-Sayed, who withdrew from the assembly due to its Islamic domination, said,
“ Morsi’s actions display a lack of wisdom.”
The final draft of the constitution has faced heavy criticism in Egypt and abroad. It has been described as weak document that gives precedents to contradiction on issues of Human rights, women’s rights and civil liberties.
Morsi’s call for a referendum comes as an estimated 50000 people, bussed in from the country, flooded Cairo to show support for his constitution.
