EGYPT: Egyptians begin voting on second day of referendum that has been criticised by rights groups

Record ID: 657978

  • Title: EGYPT: Egyptians begin voting on second day of referendum that has been criticised by rights groups
  • Date: 15th January 2014
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JANUARY 15, 2015) (REUTERS) VOTERS SEATED WAITING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION VOTERS STANDING IN LINE VOTERS ENTERING POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS CHECKING IDENTIFICATION AND LETTING VOTERS INTO POLLING STATION VOTERS ENTERING POLLING ROOM WOMAN WALKING INTO BOOTH TO FILL OUT BALLOT WOMAN VOTING 'YES' ON BALLOT POLLING ROOM WOMAN FILLING OUT BALLOT AND PUTTING IT IN BALLOT BOX WOMAN DIPPING FINGER IN INDELIBLE INK WOMAN SHOWING HER FINGER TO CAMERA PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN VOTER, HISHAM MOHAMED MOUSSA, SAYING: "God willing a large percentage of the public will vote 'yes', and for one main reason - we have been through great hardship and been worn out. So for sure today people will agree on something, except for a small minority. And as for them, may God give them comfort." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN VOTER, HAGGA ATTIYA, SAYING: "I hope that everything will be good. And I expect that the person who will eventually run the country will be someone who loves the country - al-Sisi who all of the people worship. And may God protect him from all bad things. And most importantly may God protect the country." WOMAN FILLING OUT BALLOT WOMAN CASTING BALLOT IN BALLOT BOX
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5MLL9KCF3N842VC1NDWD3I5KC
  • Story Text: There was high security at polling stations in Egypt on Wednesday (January 15) after nine people were killed a day earlier on the first day of a constitutional referendum.
    Egyptians began casting their ballots on the second day of the two-day ballot, the first vote since the military deposed president Mohamed Mursi in July.
    The draft constitution is expected to easily pass, but rights advocates and government opponents complain that the government has stifled dissent and made it impossible for a 'no' campaign to be mounted.
    The passing of the constitution may set the stage for a presidential bid by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the man who ousted Mursi following mass protests against the elected Islamist leader.
    At least nine people were killed in confrontations between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and police on Tuesday (January 14), official sources said. Two small bombs went off, one in Cairo and one in the Nile Delta city of Mahalla, but there were no injuries.
    The Brotherhood, which backs the jailed Mursi, has called for a boycott and protests over the draft, which deletes Islamic language written into the basic law approved a year ago when he was still in office. It also strengthens state bodies that defied him including the army, the police and the judiciary.
    Voter turnout appeared to be lower on Wednesday.
    Voter Hisham Mohamed Moussa said he thought it was time for Egyptians to unite following the turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.

    "God willing a large percentage of the public will vote 'yes', and for one main reason - we have been through great hardship and been worn out. So for sure today people will agree on something, except for a small minority. And as for them, may God give them comfort," he said.
    Another voter, Hagga Attiya, said she hoped that after the constitution was passed, head of the armed forces General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, would stand for president.

    "I hope that everything will be good. And I expect that the person who will eventually run the country will be someone who loves the country - al-Sisi, who all of the people worship. And may God protect him from all bad things. And most importantly may God protect the country," she said.
    The referendum is a milestone in the political transition plan the army-backed government has billed as a path back to democracy even as it presses a fierce crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's best organised party until last year.
    Egypt's security forces have killed over 1,000 pro-Mursi protesters since the former president was ousted and imprisoned thousands of backers of the Muslim Brotherhood.
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