SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt expresses 'deep dissatisfaction' to Netherlands over embassy attack    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    At TICAD, Egypt's education minister signs pacts with Casio, SAPIX    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Whose ‘civil state''?
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 24 - 06 - 2011

It appears we need to agree not only on major issues of controversy, but also on the meanings of the terms that we use. These days, many Egyptians are using the same concepts to mean different things. Take for instance the term “civil state”, which is currently the subject of intense public debate. Anyone following the current discussion will quickly discover that the term is used to mean various things.
Some who raise the banner of the civil state -- including members of the Muslim Brotherhood -- reject the granting of full citizenship rights to women and Copts. When recently confronted about this position the Brotherhood back-peddled, saying their group would not allow women and Copts to serve on the judiciary or as president, but would not mind if others voted them into these position.
This modification is not enough since their position still discriminates against more than half of the Egyptian population. One well-known Brotherhood member even went so far as to say he does not recognize liberal or leftist Muslims. This cannot be considered a mere individual opinion since the Brotherhood did not issue a statement to distance itself from this position.
A civil state should have no place for discrimination against a large sector of society or public efforts to determine individuals' level of piety. These are policies that belong to religious states that impose their own interpretation of religion on their citizenry.
There's another group that claims to defend the civil state, this one composed of many liberals and secularists, but who call for broader powers to be granted to Egypt's military establishment to protect the civil nature of the Egyptian state. Some have even requested the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to stay in power for another year or two.
The militarization of politics is a dangerous prospect for both Egypt and the army. Expanding the role of the military will overburden it with tasks over and above its main function of defending Egypt's national security at this critical time. The Egyptian army was able to play a key role in protecting the 25 January revolution because it's not a politicized institution, unlike its counterparts in countries like Lebanon and Turkey. This allowed the military to take the side of the majority of Egypt's people.
This same group also claims the majority vote in the the 19 March referendum in support of the constitutional amendments cannot be taken seriously as Egyptians require more time to get educated in politics. They are suspicious of most Egyptians and accuse them of ignorance.
Claiming that Egyptians are not sufficiently educated to make reasonable political decisions is arrogant and inherently undemocratic. Those who make such claims want elite patronage over the Egyptian people, at least for the time being until they reach political maturity. This view has nothing to do with a civil state -- on the contrary, it advocates a secular state where the army and the elite play a chief role, but where democracy is not a top priority. Democracy may be tolerated at times, but not at others.
The debate about Egypt's civil state is transforming into a polarized battle between religion and secularism that has little to do with the ideals of democracy. Before the revolution, Egypt suffered from corruption and despotism -- our priority now should be the establishment of a democratic state that respects the public will.
Egyptians were not any less pious before the revolution in order for us to require a bigger dose of religion now. Also, those who carried out the revolution were not all successful university graduates. Nobody has the right to impose their authority over a people -- with all its diversity -- that carried out such an amazing revolution.
There are members of both camps who insist on building a civil democratic state that measures up to the aspirations of Egyptians, but they are working in silence. Together their efforts can help forge a national consensus that can bring together all Egyptians.
Translated and abridged from the Arabic Edition


Clic here to read the story from its source.