Jama'a al-Islamiya's consultancy council has said it rejects the addendum made by the ruling military council to the Constitutional Declaration, which has been governing the country since March 2011. In a meeting late Monday, the group stressed the necessity of coordinating with all political forces to agree on a unified stance to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' attempts to widen its political influence. The SCAF issued late Sunday a supplement to the Constitutional Declaration, a move that followed a court verdict that dissolved the Islamist-led People's Assembly last week. The articles of the supplement grant the SCAF full legislative powers and determine the authorities of the next president, whose name is to be officially announced Thursday. The complementary declaration sets rules for electing the Constituent Assembly. Several political groups and politicians have criticized the announcement and many called for mass protests Tuesday in response. Tarek al-Zomor, a member of Jama'a al-Islamiya's Construction and Development Party, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that attendants at the Monday meeting repudiated the constitutional supplement, believing that it takes away from the upcoming president's powers and represents an encroachment on the Constituent Assembly. “People should defend their revolution through popular action, which is the basis for encountering any assault on freedoms,” Zomor said. “I do not think the road map laid down by the SCAF leads to a clash; it rather requires everybody to unite to restore their full rights.” Zomor said the move by the SCAF could undermine the whole political process. “We are, however, anxious to proceed through a peaceful revolutionary course. Violence is not on the table at all,” he said. Assem Abdel Maged, another group member, said daily meetings are being held to discuss the latest political developments. “There is complete coordination between Islamist and other political players, and Egyptians need to maintain self-restraint through this critical phase,” he said. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
