As was the case on March 19, 2011, when millions of Egyptians voted for or against a package of constitutional amendments, the decree that President Morsi announced on Thursday has once again divided Egypt. The decree stipulates a retrial for the ousted president (his predecessor) and all those accused of killing protesters during the revolution. Dr Morsi also gives himself the right to take any decision to protect the country and the revolution's goals, while no-one, even the judiciary, can object to any constitutional declaration or law issued by himself. "I am really shocked by this decree. It was really unexpected for me to hear something like this from the elected President," says Amal Abdel-Fattah, a 46-year-old civil servant. "I reject all these decisions because they are a violation of the judicial authority, a cornerstone of the State that no-one has the right to harm," she adds nervously. Amal believes that no president has the right to give himself absolute authority by giving his resolutions immunity. “He is acting like dictator," she says. Morsi has given himself the power to appoint a new public prosecutor, who, according to the decree, should be a judge not less than 40 years old; he will only serve for four years in this post. By dint of the same decree, courts are barred from dissolving the Shura Council or the committee which is currently writing the Constitution and has been given two months to finish its work. Mohamed Selim el-Awa, a former presidential candidate, agrees with the decree. He has described it as revolutionary, especially in its decision related to the martyrs and those injured during the revolution, and the decision about the minimum age of the Public Prosecutor. "I agree on all the decisions Morsi has taken, because I want calm to return to the country, so that the economy can pick up again," says Ahmed Abdullah, a 54-year-old accountant. "As an elected President, Morsi has the right to make even more decrees. I will still agree with them, until he finishes his four-year term [as President]. Then, I will have the right to demand what I want from the next President before electing him," he told the Egyptian Mail. Abdullah said that the President should be responsible for his choices, bearing the consequences, whether good or bad, adding that he too should accept the consequences, as he himself voted for Morsi. "If Morsi's decisions are not good, it's my fault because I voted for the wrong candidate. I have to accept the consequences. Anyway, let's wait and see and not jump to conclusions," he stressed. Mohamed Mohieddin, a member of the committee writing the Constitution, agrees. He believes that Morsi has taken these decisions for the sake of the State, in order to restore stability. He's also happy that Morsi has given a deadline for the Constitution writers to finish their work. The deep divisions in Egypt were highlighted when some people, mainly from the Brotherhood, protested outside the High Court in support of Morsi's decisions. Just a few minutes' walk away, another group were protesting in Tahrir Square against Morsi's decree. Mohamed ElBaradei, a former presidential candidate and a Nobel Prize winner, said on his Twitter account: "Morsi has usurped all State powers and appointed himself Egypt's new Pharaoh." Meanwhile, Mohamed Fouad Gadallah, the President's legal adviser, has tried to clarify the decree, describing these decisions as a temporary measure to stabilise the country. “Most of these decisions reflect the goals of the revolution and respect the judiciary," he explained in a talk show programme. The decree has caused confusion in the street, says Ayman el-Qot, a 32-year-old banker, explaining that it has its cons and pros. "I agree on the retrial of the martyrs' killers. This was one of the revolution's demands and we all feel that their first trial wasn't fair. Every Egyptian wants to see these criminals punished. "But at the same time, I reject the idea of Morsi having total power and authority; and how come he doesn't give anyone the right to object what he's doing, even the highest authority in the State, the judicial authority? It seems that he has made himself Egypt's new Pharaoh," he adds. In his speech on Friday outside the Itahadiya Palace, where the crowd was reported to mostly comprise his supporters, Morsi has said that it is his duty to secure the revolution's goals, as he is a president for all Egyptians, whether they support or oppose him. “I respect the judges and don't want to dominate the legislative authority," Dr Morsi added. "I found nothing new in Morsi's speech. I couldn't understand his message. I felt he was saying that nothing will ever change," says el-Qot. Ahmed Helmi, the famous comic actor who was in Tahrir, said: "No-one can see a bad film twice. No-one can even watch a bad film to the end." He has added that he has seen some ‘scenes from the film and doesn't like it'. He was hinting at Morsi's decree, warning that he will be like his predecessor, Mubarak. When Helmi has said he doesn't want a bad film to be repeated, he was referring to the old regime, ousted by the revolution. "I agree entirely with Morsi's decree," says Saqr Hassan, a 49-year-old taxi driver. "He is the President and he is working for the benefit of the country." Saqr says that everything in the country is unstable. “There is chaos all over Egypt that needs dealing with and Morsi is trying to do just that. These decisions will help achieve stability." Meanwhile, Ahmed el-Zend, the head of the Judges' Club, says that the President's decree is taking the country backwards, going against the concept of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, as well as contradicting Morsi's manifesto.
