Islamist movements and parties are threatening to take to the streets if the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) approves a document that will impose guidelines for drafting a new constitution.
The government will form a committee to study all suggestions on the supra-constitutional document, said Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy in a statement Wednesday, adding that a unified document would be issued for public discussion.
According to Selmy, the government plans to issue a constitutional declaration soon that will include the supra-constitutional principles.
“Any attempt to set these principles will have a serious negative impact,” said Jama’a al-Islamiya spokesperson Tarek al-Zomor.
Jama’a al-Islamiya will object to the SCAF move, along with other Islamist forces, because the step will violate the 19 March public referendum, he added.
Liberal and secular forces fear Islamists will dominate the next parliament that will be tasked with drafting a new constitution.
Zomor added in a statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm that the SCAF's intent to release a supra-constitutional document reveals the council's intentions to divide the country and elongate military rule.
Karem Radwan, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, said the party is against drafting supra-constitutional principles, which would circumvent the will of people by violating the 19 March referendum.
“Neither the SCAF nor the head of the cabinet and his deputy have the right to violate the people’s will,“ said Radwan, referring to Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.
“We will confront all attempts to draft the supra-constitutional principles document through staging million-strong protests and maybe more,” he added.
Khaled Saeed, spokesperson for the Salafi Front, said Islamists would not keep quiet if the document was released and would use all means, including sit-ins and protests, to prevent the move.
“We decided to hold a meeting with Jama’a al-Islamiya leaders to discuss means for a quick response to this issue,” said Saeed, adding that the groups might stage protests in governorates only during Ramadan and come back to Tahrir Square after the holy month ends.
Adel Afify, chairman of the Salafi Asala Party, also said Islamist forces would stage strong protests in Cairo and other governorates to denounce the issuance of principles governing a new constitution.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
