CAIRO: Leading Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei said that he supported al-Azhar University's efforts to push constitutional principles and said they should be seen as a “guiding frame” for Egypt's transitional future. The university, the most prestigious in the Sunni Islamic world, had been tipped by the military rulers in Egypt to develop principles for a future constitution and held a meeting with Egyptian political figures on Wednesday to discuss the goals of the committee. “Those who attended the meeting at Al-Azhar prepared by Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, agreed that the Al-Azhar document is a general guiding frame for the constitutional committee,” said ElBaradei following the discussions. ElBaradei, known for his secular leanings, added that the al-Azhar recommendations “assure the principles and the tradition on which new constitution must be based on, particularly Islamic principles.” Al-Azhar had invited all political coalitions to help draft and edit the documents for Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Salafist participants had been accused by other members of the drafting process, including al-Azhar scholars, of attacking members during this process. Salafists and other conservative groups have also been accused of attempting to prevent Al-Azhar from actively participating in Egyptian politics and holding only Saudi Arabian interests in mind. “The Al-Azhar meeting is considered a step to regain Al-Azhar's role as a beacon of moderate Islam in Egypt and the whole world,” added ElBaradei. ElBaradei said the meeting shows that all Egyptian parties and forces agreed on one identity and tradition, although they differ in their political and intellectual beliefs. He also said that a state of disunity was revealed during last six months, but today Egypt has “great hope to achieve unity, stability and progress.” Ironically, his comments come less than one day after he said Egypt's democratic progress was “eroding.” He said that the road to democracy is “beginning to erode due to military courts, an unwillingness to protect peaceful protesters and a rejection of international election monitors,” said ElBaradei, in comments published by local Egyptian Arabic newspapers. His statement comes after he spoke out against the arrest of activists over statements they made on social networking sites. He singled out Asmaa Mahfouz, a young activist who has been charged with slander and incitement and faces a military trial. “6 months after the January 25 Revolution we need leadership with a clear vision, a transparent and determined plan and a genuine change in thought before it's too late,” ElBaradei wrote in a direct address on his Twitter account to the military council. “To all Egyptian people, we must unify immediately around the Revolution's goals and let go of our narrow disagreements so every Egyptian can regain his right to a dignified life,” he added. BM
