12/01/2012

Islamists to protest in support of Egypt's president

An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30.An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30.
A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30.A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30.
A man holds a copy of the Koran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30.A man holds a copy of the Koran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30.
Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. Police fired tear gas into the square, where several hundred protesters spent the night after a mass rally to denounce President Mohamed Morsy's assumption of expanded powers. Activists have been camping out in Tahrir Square since November 23.Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. Police fired tear gas into the square, where several hundred protesters spent the night after a mass rally to denounce President Mohamed Morsy's assumption of expanded powers. Activists have been camping out in Tahrir Square since November 23.
A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday.A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday.
Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers. Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers.
An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration.An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration.
Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday.Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday.
An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square.An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square.
Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street.Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street.
Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday.Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday.
Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution. Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution.
Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday.Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday.
Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday. Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday.
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator.
Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces.Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces.
Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.
Egyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on FridayEgyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on Friday
Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.
A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday.A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday.
Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday.Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday.
Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.
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  • Political wing of Muslim Brotherhood calls for two one-million-man marches
  • Pro-Morsy protest will be across the Nile in the city of Giza
  • Egyptians will vote on the constitution in two weeks
  • Human Rights Watch says the constitution is missing key rights protections

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Cairo (CNN) -- Central Cairo may belong to opponents of President Mohamed Morsy, but Saturday, across the Nile River, central Giza will belong to him, if his party and other groups rallying behind it have their way.

The Muslim Brotherhood's political wing has called for two one-million-man marches in support of the embattled head of state after more than a week of protests against him, which saw stones fly, protesters and police clash and clouds of teargas waft through Tahrir Square.

The Freedom and Justice party has called for the two marches to converge at noon (7:00 a.m. ET in the neighborhood of Cairo University on al-Nahda Square. The traffic circle on the Nile's opposing bank could become the antithesis of Tahrir for a day.

Opposition factions have renewed their call for continued protests, which were to start near daybreak. But by noon, the famed roundabout, which was packed on previous days, was relatively empty.

The Islamists will be joined in Giza by 18 groups that have announced their participation in the pro-Morsy rally. Most are religious groups, others are not, such as the Egyptian Revolution's Alliance, the Revolutionary Front to Protect the Revolution, and Coalition of the January 25th Youth.

Seeds of Egypt's past sown long ago

Anger boiled over into the streets of central Cairo last week after Morsy issued an edict to exclude any decisions he has made since he took office from judicial review.

Many saw it as an overbearing grab for autocratic power. Morsy himself described it in an appearance on state TV as a necessary move to fight judges, who were working to destroy progress made in the Arab spring uprising. There are still holdover loyalists of deposed strongman president Hosni Mubarak on the benches of Egypt's judicial system.

Some judges had threatened to disband the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting a new post-Mubarak constitution. It was dominated by Morsy's Islamist allies, who also hold a majority in parliament.

After discontent raged over Morsy's decree, the assembly rushed to conclusion, further fueling suspicions of a power grab. Christian, liberal and leftist constituents left the assembly, and some were replaced by Islamists, further increasing their numbers.

Some experts saw the snap vote on the national charter as a move by Morsy to dissolve his own unpopular edict quickly, which he promised would become null and void as soon as a new constitution is in place.

"The draft constitution will end the state of political division, because it will cancel the constitutional decrees that the president issued," said Dawood Basil, a Cairo University constitutional law expert. "I feel overwhelming joy after hearing the final wording of the articles."

Opinion: Don't blame Muslim Brotherhood for Morsy power grab

Whether the draft constitution will move Egypt toward being a freer and more open society is still in question, experts say.

Citizens will vote in two weeks to either ratify or defeat it in a referendum.

Some experts also see the vote as a referendum on President Mohamed Morsy's government. Morsy was elected to office after the popular uprising in 2011 that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. But his recent actions have increased suspicions of misappropriation of power that date back to his narrow election win, which opponents claimed was rigged.

Morsy's Muslim Brotherhood party pushed through the 234-article draft in just 21 hours from Thursday into Friday. Frustrated Coptic Christians and liberals earlier had walked out, complaining their views were not getting enough consideration.

Protesters to Morsy: Roll back your decree or leave

A quick glimpse at the articles show that the language deals with individuals' civil rights, particularly how security forces and the justice system treats them. There's wording that prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and ensures due process, a sensitive topic in Egypt. Mubarak and his loyalists are blamed for jailing and harshly mistreating innocents in the years before and especially during last year's uprising.

Anyone jailed cannot be interrogated without an attorney present, and if detainees don't have one, the judicial system must appoint one, one article stipulates, and phone conversations, electronic correspondence and other communication cannot be tapped without a warrant.

While the articles sound democratic, the fine print indicates otherwise, some independent rights experts say.

"Moving a flawed and contradictory draft to a vote is not the right way to guarantee fundamental rights or to promote respect for the rule of law," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

He told CNN on Friday that key rights are ignored in the draft.

"It guarantees 'freedom of expression,' but you cannot insult the Prophet. You cannot defame the Prophet," Stork said.

Opinion: A new Egypt must learn political compromise

The draft addresses freedom of religion, he notes, "but you have to be a Christian, Jew (or) Muslim."

Some critics argue the constitution could move Egypt closer to Sharia law. Mohamed Naeem, a member of the Eyptian Social Democratic Party, said it opens the way for a theocracy.

The preamble includes language pertaining to women, stating that they are equal to men but also accentuating their role as mothers.

Heba Morayef, the Egypt director for Human Rights Watch, argued that the language regarding women is too vague. She worries that the mention of women's family role will trump other freedoms.

The United Nations' high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, urged Morsy to reconsider the draft, saying a number of measures contained in it are incompatible with international human rights law. She called them "not yet sufficient."

CNN's Reza Sayah, Amir Ahmed and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report.

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