Islamists are planning for massive demonstrations on Friday, 18 November to protest the document of supra-constitutional principles Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy is advocating for. Selmy met with political leaders on Wednesday to discuss the 22-clause document, which will put in place certain guidelines on the character of the state to be followed whenever the new constitution is written. The document is a product of months-long discussions. After the March constitutional referendum determined that the new constitution will be drafted by a constituent assembly selected by the newly elected parliament, secular forces began to fear that a Islamist-led parliament might pick drafters that would want an Islamic state. Salafi preacher and presidential hopeful Hazem Abu Ismail has urged Egyptians to take part in the protests. In a statement published Monday on his Facebook page, Abu Ismail called for circulating leaflets and using all means of communication to spur Egyptians to attend the demonstrations. Mamdouh Ismail, vice chairman of the Salafi-led Nour Party, said he has changed his mind and decided not to sue Selmy. The proposed document instead requires another revolution to oust the deputy prime minister and others who would benefit from its passage, he said. Speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Abu Ismail pointed to a "US project behind the document" and blamed certain people who are seeking government influence against the people's will. Ismail compared the manner in which Selmy has presented the document to "the style Israel adopts in treating the Palestinians.” He stressed that preparations are already underway for the 18 November protests. Salafi Front Spokesman Khaled Saeed revealed that the front has coordinated with Salafi groups and the Muslim Brotherhood ahead of the anticipated demonstrations. The Salafi Front is not looking to remove Selmy from his post, Saeed said, adding that “faces change but the policies of the old regime survive.” The goal behind the protest is to force the government not to enact the document and press the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to hand over power by April 2012, he said. The legal adviser to the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, Ahmed Abu Baraka, ruled out the possibility of legal action against Selmy over the proposed document. The document is a government attempt to manipulate the constituent assembly that will be formed to write the new constitution, he said, adding that Selmy's effort undermines the rule of law and violates the people's will. The Muslim Brotherhood rejects the document completely, regardless of amendments, Abu Baraka told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Yousry Hammad, the spokesperson for the Nour Party, stressed that the more Selmy steps up his efforts to pass the document, the more his party will escalate its efforts to prevent it. He claimed that 99 percent of Egyptians reject the document, aside from the Tagammu and Wafd parties, remnants of the former Mubarak regime and anti-Islamist groups. Translated from the Arabic Edition
