- Title: EGYPT: Women fear loss of rights under new constitution
- Date: 22nd October 2012
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 22, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JOURNALISTS' SYNDICATE SIGN READING: 'SYNDICATE OF JOURNALISTS' PARTICIPANTS SEATED FOR CONFERENCE SIGN READING: "NO TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN' WOMEN SEATED GROUP OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS SEATED WOMEN SEATED EGYPTIAN POLITICIAN, MERVAT TALLAWY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEADER OF KEFAYA OPPOSITION MOVEMENT, GEORGE ISHAK, SAYING: "This development -- we want Egypt's women to gain equality with Egypt's men, and particularly in the constitution. The constitutional assembly is invalid, invalid, invalid, and we reject the constitutional draft which came out because it does not represent us at all." ISHAK ADDRESSING CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LECTURER IN ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY AT AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY, AMINA NOSIER, SAYING: "They do not take the rights of women, men and children into account. This effort has failed because it doesn't see the value of the Egyptian and the value of women, whether in the past, in our civilisation, or in the future, in our hopes." WOMEN APPLAUDING
- Embargoed: 6th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6RRIBRCJH4A9VW8CI7RSFXOTT
- Story Text: Hundreds of activists gathered in Cairo on Monday (October 22) to express their concerns over the country's draft constitution, which they say puts women's rights in danger.
The draft constitution was released for public discussion two weeks ago and international rights groups and liberals have voiced concerns about the role of Islam and the rights of women and children.
The U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch said article 36 of the document threatened equality between men and women by saying the state should ensure equality as long as it did not conflict with "the rulings of Islamic Sharia". The group said this could allow a "further regression in women's rights".
Addressing Monday's event, the leader of the opposition Kefaya movement said the draft constitution was a flawed document.
"We want Egypt's women to gain equality with Egypt's men, and particularly in the constitution. The constitutional assembly is invalid, invalid, invalid, and we reject the constitutional draft which came out because it does not represent us at all," said George Ishak.
The document is meant to be the centrepiece of a new democratic Egypt after veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year and its successful drafting is seen as a litmus test for its new Islamist rulers including President Mohamed Mursi.
But liberal parties and politicians have repeatedly threatened to walk out of the drafting assembly, accusing Islamists who dominate it of seeking to impose an Islamic vision of society that does not reflect the nation's diversity.
University lecturer Amina Nosier said the draft was disappointing.
"They do not take the rights of women, men and children into account. This effort has failed because it doesn't see the value of the Egyptian and the value of women, whether in the past, in our civilisation, or in the future, in our hopes," she said.
A court will rule on October 23 on whether the assembly drafting Egypt's new constitution is legal.
The case was brought by a group of liberal activists who say the 100-strong assembly is dominated by Islamists and is unfit to issue a constitution for all Egyptians. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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