An SCAF-proposed document setting out constitutional principles has pitted liberal secularists against Islamists, writes Gamal Essam El-Din After bitter exchanges over whether elections should precede the drafting of a new constitution or not, secularists and Islamists are again at loggerheads, this time over a document aimed at establishing supra-constitutional principles. The document was proposed by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) 10 days ago in an attempt to contain the fears of secularists who argue that if the next parliament is, as expected, dominated by Islamist trends, then the constitution it produces will be similarly skewed. Secularist groups welcomed the ruling SCAF's announcement. On 14 June journalist Osama El-Ghazali Harb, chairman of the liberal-oriented Democratic Front, said he had been asked by the SCAF to draft a document, a "Declaration of the Egyptian People's Bill of Rights" that would be "something like England's Magna Carta or America's Declaration of Independence". "SCAF members asked me to begin drafting the required declaration and, in doing so, take note of the proposed bills of rights that have been put up for public discussion in recent weeks." The latter, said Harb, include drafts proposed by Mohamed El-Baradei, ex-head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Al-Azhar, the National Consensus Conference and the Democratic Alliance of more than 20 political parties, led by the Wafd and the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party. The proposed declaration, says Harb, will form an integral part of the coming constitution. "It will most probably include an introduction and 12 articles. The introduction will clearly state that the declaration forms an integral part of the constitution and that any violation of it represents a violation of the constitution." "The articles will state that all Egyptians are free and equal in rights and duties before the constitution and the law, without discrimination on grounds of religion, race, colour, or social class." "They will make it clear that the state takes charge of upholding the dignity of Egyptians and instituting their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, and that every Egyptian is entitled to exercise his or her rights without infringing on the rights of others." Earlier draft bills of rights had differed over whether it was necessary to identify Islam as the official religion of Egypt and Sharia as the main source of legislation. "Some have argued that these are matters that should be left to be included in the constitution itself rather than in the bill of rights, while others argue the opposite," said Harb. The Muslim Brotherhood says it has no objections to the proposed bill "as long as it does not infringe on the right of elected parliamentarians to draft the new constitution". Saad El-Katatni, secretary-general of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, indicated on 18 July that "the party has no problems with the proposed bill of rights as long as the will of the majority of Egyptians -- who want elections before the drafting of the constitution -- is respected." Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya is less happy. Some of its leaders say they will join forces with the Salafist groups who have called for a mass rally in Tahrir on Friday under the banner "Sharia First". "Liberal secularists are trying to control the political scene and impose their will on the new constitution," says Emadeddin Abdel-Ghani, leader of the Salafist Nour (Light) Party. "After failing to convince the nation that the constitution be drawn up ahead of parliamentary elections, they are now mobilising in an attempt to strip the right of elected MPs to draft the constitution." The move to draw up a bill of rights was "a bad development from the military council and goes against the will of the nation as expressed in the 19 March referendum" said Abdel-Ghani. Salafis and Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya leaders believe that secularist forces are seeking to eliminate any reference to Sharia in the new constitution. "They have invented the idea of a bill of rights that avoids any mention of Islam. That is their strategy," charges Abdel-Ghani. The Salafist call for a Sharia First rally is not expected to draw large crowds. The Muslim Brotherhood has said it will no longer take part in demonstrations. "What Egypt needs most now is political and economic stability. Sit-ins and public rallies go against this goal," says El-Katatni.
