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Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Clarifies: Shariah Must Be Basis of New Constitution

Oct. 31, 2012 8:56pm Billy Hallowell

CAIRO (TheBlaze/AP) — Egypt’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood says Islamic Shariah law must be the basis of Egypt’s new constitution, and legislation must be based on Islamic penal code.

The Brotherhood said in a statement Wednesday that a country ruled by Shariah would not become a theocracy. These comments are important to monitor, considering that Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi comes from the Brotherhood. Additionally, fears about Islamists’ intentions continue to rage.

The statement appeared to be an attempt to clarify the group’s position toward the country’s most contentious issue — the extent of Islamic influence in governance and legislation.

Egypts Muslim Brotherhood: Shariah Must Be Basis of New Constitution

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi (Photo Credit: FILE)

The 100-member Islamist-led panel tasked with drafting the new document has been facing heavy criticism, mostly from liberals who fear Islamization of Egypt through its work.

Earlier this month, an op-ed by The New York Times’ Roger Cohen, the paper’s former foreign correspondent and editor, laid out his fears over a troubling line in the most recent version of the Egyptian constitution. Cohen called the issues pertaining to the document “critical” and said that, because it’s not often that constitutions are amended and changed, any problematic language must be grappled with before the proclamation is adopted.

Among the lines that has minority groups and women up in arms is article 68 of the constitution. It reads, “The state shall take all measures to establish the equality of women and men in the areas of political, cultural, economic and social life, as well as all other areas, insofar as this does not conflict with the rulings of Islamic Shariah.”

It is the latter part of this statement that has sparked some outrage and worry. While equality is called for in the opening lines of the article, the section also proclaims that it can only happen so long as it “does not conflict with the rulings of Islamic Shariah.”

Photo Credit: FILE

This is problematic — especially if Islamists are in control, making the laws and ensuring their enforcement. If shariah is made to be malleable to theocratic goals and supportive of restrictive measures impacting women and minority groups, then the former portion of the article is null.

The constitution would be a key definer of Egypt’s government and society after last year’s ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak. The latest comments make it clear: The Muslim Brotherhood wants Islamic law to dominate the nation’s constitutional constructs.

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Comments (25)

D.A.Veteran
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 8:28am
EVOQ, thank’s for the enlightening comments. But, there is a correlation between Islam and Sharia Law that cannot be severed and that is in how the people want to be governed in every aspect of their lives. Islamist worldwide are preaching Sharia Law and its not just the men. That really bothers me as a man. Even in the U.S., I read Islam leaders demanding Sharia Law to supersede our U.S. Constitution. Whats sad about here is that much of the Muslims are ex-convict converts who use Islam as their shield to hide behind. As long as Americans want a truly evolving free society with Christian values, Sharia Law will not succeed nor will a Islamic state. But, our laws and lawlessness in govt. have put us in a most uncomfortable position and we must re-align our country back to what is most important and thats to secure the American way of life even if we have to lock up our borders and deport known communists and muslim extremists. Oh, and get rid of NAFTA. Clinton’s baby is why theres such a rift between China’s exports of goods to here and our exports of industry and technology to China. Even Hillary wants it gone.

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sgtstubbs
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 10:35pm
We should follow their example and rewrite our Constitution to include the Mussys law, I like the part that they cut off the hand of thief s or the tongue of a person who lies. The Courts would have a heart attack. Nope it would never work, no one in the Government could speak, or take money under the table. LOL to the point of losing it down my leg

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BennyBee3
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 5:26pm
Yet Obama stated just last week that these guys are running a Democratic government. How is that Democratic? Oh, yeah, it’s HIS version of Democracy. I forgot, he thinks Democracy means everybody from the last 200 years is a viable voter, as long as somebody wants to vote Democrat. No problem, folks. If Obama gets back in, we’ll be under Sharia inside 5 years. Yeah, 5-you really think he’d leave? Ha, you really are lost in space!

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Arshloch
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:43pm
Better a basis for a new brand of toilet paper.

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Dscriptboy
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:40pm
The Caliphate is coming. Don’t you remember your history classes? Islam once spread from Spain, across the Strait of Gibralter, across northern Africa, up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and into Asia Minor (Turkey). They long for this to return, and it is… right now. Once they have solidified themselves, Israel will be attacked. And what is sad, according to The Book of Revelations, every nation (including the United States) will seek to destory Israel. But glory to God because he has promised to save Israel.

Evil is coming… It is in the White House right now. You think I am whacked and that is fine. But evil is here.

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- sgtstubbs
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 10:40pm
  Sad but it does seem that way.
  
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EvoQ
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:15pm
Sorry but I had to add this, the Term Sharia Law…Sharia Law has NOTHING to do with Islam or the Koran. Sharia Law is a CULTURAL Value system that is very Barbaric, Islamic Law is absolutely the opposite and mirrors our Values here in the USA. I am a Christian by birth and want to show and inform people, I have no bias except the truth and let people make up their own mind. just remember Sharia Law, has Nothing to do with Islamic Law they are vastly different. If you look on the Muslim Brotherhood’s website on the front page it explains how they “Muslim Brotherhood” are Opposed to Sharia Law ! Now some extremists in the Muslim brotherhood have their own group which yes being extremist are going to call for extremist laws, would you not expect that ? But the main “Muslim Brother” organization does not call for Sharia Law. Yet another prime example of a journalist twisting the true story around to meet their agenda ! Which is far from the Actual Truth…

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EvoQ
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:07pm
I just read this on another Middle East news site and I quote
“On one hand, the release was meant to ease pressure from the Salafi movement, who criticized the Brotherhood in recent for backing down from their intention to base Egypt’s new constitution on Shariah law.”……see be VERY Careful What you read, and Who you read it from. Do NOT Take as FACT what Every Journalist writes as they too have an Agenda ! A Religious Christian Extremist Journalist will absolutely wan to INCITE their readers Against Islam, just as there are Extremist Muslims, there too are Extremist Christians !!!!

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- sgtstubbs
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 10:43pm
  Extremist Christians !!!! The only one of these type is my bible thumping best friend….He really is into the bible and thumps it every time I give him a beer.
  
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EvoQ
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:55pm
Of Course an Islamist Extremist Group is going to call out for EXTREME Laws. Why is this news ? Where is the Balance to this story ? When 100 people in Egypt get together and they are all Extremist Islamics then you would expect something like this from them. If Anyone knows Egypt’s history; they Egypt was one if not the first Islamic country that Modernized. Back in the 70′s Women walked the streets of Egypt with mini skirts on. Yes; Egypt has slowly crept back toward a more Religious based country since the 70′s but Egypt is a far cry from say Iran. Egypt’s President recently was in Iran and Lambasted the Iranian government for putting Religious laws before Iranian governmental law. And Egypt’s President was a founding member of the Muslim brotherhood. This article isa blatant attempt by a Christian Journalist to INCITE Religion against another Religion. This is WHY most foreign Islamic countries look down on the USA, as we INTERFERE with these countries Way Too much. Let’s mind our own business and then and then can we expect these other Islamic countries to mind their own business and not hate the USA like some of them do.

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anothercomment
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:31pm
Reading this article my question becomes: WHY IN THE HECK IS THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES MONITORING OUR ELECTION and not in Egypt challenging the treatment of women and minorities?

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:17pm
We will see the geographic Caliphate form by the end of 2013. However, I suspect that there will be war between muslim nations to determine who will be the Caliph. The different branches of islam love to kill each other. This probably is wishful thinking.

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grickm
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 8:19am
All I know is, none of my tourist dollars will ever be spent in a sharia based country. And, the sooner our petrodollars stop flowing to sharia based countries, the better. People who want to live under medieval laws should have the opportunity to see what the medieval period was actually like.

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Ron Staiger
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 6:34am
How’s that Arab-Friggin-Spring grabbin ya now, Baraaaaaack?

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cgull
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:26am
Look out people, here comes another Iran!

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- smallcraftadvisory
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 6:03am
  It may be coming to the U.S. if we don’t reverse this foolishness that is leftism. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
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Metalstr8jckt
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:22am
Iranian republican guard is the problem, and a thorn in his side.
What incriminating evidence did the US ambassador to Libya have against his boss? Money and weapons to republican guard agents from Iran who are orchestrating the revolutions in Libya, Egypt and Syria. It makes Iran/contra look like water pistols.

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gb123
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:55am
Sounds a bit like the final constitution in Animal Farm by George Orwell. Will any of these conflict with the new constitution?

“Four legs good, two legs better!
No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.
No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.
No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. ”
Animal Farm By George Orwell 1945.

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TheGrtDcptn
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:49am
clinton global initiative on the podium…eh…?!…

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Jenasus
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:46am
Did you expect the Muslim Brotherhood no to not use Sharia Law?
You can not have one without the other. They go hand in hand.
They justify their terrorist actions with their religion.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:38am
It’s comforting to know that 0′s administration helped Morsi win the fraud election in Egypt. Will 0 use the same tactics that Moris did to win? I think he will. What were the tactics? The secularist candidate actually won by 30,000 votes. And Coptic Christians were kept from voting at all. Election results were held up for 3 days.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2012/rayomond-ibrahim/did-the-mslim-brotherhood-really-win-the-presidency-in-egypt/

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- Jenasus
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:50am
  The page no longer exists in reference to the other article.
  
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- Nostradumbass
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:03am
  Guess it is so different than the Christian love you are spreading over here? Only 6 days left to watch your heads implode. Obama/Biden 2012. Clinton 2016. Live it. Learn it. Get educated instead of edjukatid, it’s enlightening. ;-)
  
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- WhitePaladin1
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:23pm
  @NOSTRA, You certainly are a dumbass….
  
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- WhitePaladin1
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:28pm
  NOSTRA, you certainly are a dumba**!
  
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