"Arab Spring" democracy on the march: Women's equality article removed from Egypt draft constitution

Democracy! Pluralism! Sharia! "Women's equality article removed from constitution," by Mai Shams El-Din for Egypt Independent, November 12 (thanks to Block Ness):

Members of the Constituent Assembly agreed last week to remove a proposed article which provided some constitutional support for gender equality — provided that such equality did not violate the provisions of Islamic Sharia law.
The episode showed the ability of both liberals and ultra-conservative Salafis to stamp their mark on a constitution-writing process dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Secularists had objected to women’s rights being made conditional on Sharia.

This, they argued, would endanger the whole concept of equality, and could be used as a backdoor to strip women of civil and political rights they have already gained, like the right to be nominated for presidential elections or to hold high government positions, as well as the right to work and education.

Salafi forces, meanwhile, believed that openly granting the right of gender equality without restrictions was a Western idea that would endanger the provisions of Sharia, and would encourage secularists to challenge laws permitting polygamy or change Sharia-compliant inheritance laws.

Removing the article was thus seen as a compromise between the two bitterly opposed factions.

But both gender equality and Sharia are still referenced in the current draft of the constitution.

Article 2 stipulates that the principles of Sharia law are the main source of legislation, while Article 30 states that citizens are equal before the law, with no distinction based on gender, origin, language, religion, dogma, opinion, social status, or disability.

Freedom and Justice Party leader and Constituent Assembly member Amr Darrag said in media reports that the Salafi forces’ fears are unfounded because of Article 2, while secular forces should be reassured by Article 30....

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7 Comments

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AnneCrockett | November 13, 2012 6:59 AM | Reply

So when do the politicians and commentariat who were so thrilled with the Arab Spring come forward and say, "Oops! Robert Spencer was right and we were wrong."

https://me.yahoo.com/a/FwMNp.ks0u4Z8nzNZLkxIdwnglE-#78d5d | November 13, 2012 7:19 AM | Reply

The title of the above article does compaire with the reality which is exposed about Islam in the book THE MUST BE STOPPED by Brigitte Gabriel. For it reads "Across the Muslim world, even in moderate Islamic countries, women's rights are almost nonexistent... Women in Islam are considered unclean, deeemed inferiot even to dirt."

miriam rove | November 13, 2012 7:26 AM | Reply

and where is that woman from egypt? the one that spay painted Pamela's ad? I can not remmebr here name but where is she opposing this?
M

Stephanie | November 13, 2012 7:41 AM | Reply

Democracy! Pluralism! Sharia! "Women's equality article removed from constitution,"

Devout Muslims

Q. 2:282 + 4:11 + 4:176 A woman is worth one-half a man
... vs. German constitution Article 3 Paragraph 2 "Men and women have equal rights"

http://schnellmann.org/a-woman-is-worth-one-half-a-man-to-allah.html

Champ | November 14, 2012 10:54 AM | Reply

If "Arab Spring" sounds so refreshing! ...then why is it so deeeeepressing?

Methinks a new *name* is in order here ...

any idea? My creative juices are failing me now.

...thinking :-|

pulsar182 replied to comment from miriam rove | November 14, 2012 6:24 PM | Reply

"and where is that woman from egypt? the one that spay painted Pamela's ad? I can not remmebr here name but where is she opposing this?"

Egyptian-American journalist and blogger Mona Eltahawy

gravenimage | November 15, 2012 4:28 PM | Reply

"Arab Spring" democracy on the march: Women's equality article removed from Egypt draft constitution
......................

Is anyone here surprised by this? I know I'm not.

Members of the Constituent Assembly agreed last week to remove a proposed article which provided some constitutional support for gender equality — provided that such equality did not violate the provisions of Islamic Sharia law.

The episode showed the ability of both liberals and ultra-conservative Salafis to stamp their mark on a constitution-writing process dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood.
......................

Ah...right. Of course, the insistence that women's rights not violate Shari'ah means that there *are* no women's rights.

Secularists had objected to women’s rights being made conditional on Sharia.

This, they argued, would endanger the whole concept of equality, and could be used as a backdoor to strip women of civil and political rights they have already gained, like the right to be nominated for presidential elections or to hold high government positions, as well as the right to work and education.
......................

No sh*t...

Salafi forces, meanwhile, believed that openly granting the right of gender equality without restrictions was a Western idea that would endanger the provisions of Sharia, and would encourage secularists to challenge laws permitting polygamy or change Sharia-compliant inheritance laws.

Removing the article was thus seen as a compromise between the two bitterly opposed factions.
......................

On what planet is removing even the pro forma nod to women's equality a "compromise"? This just removes even the vague facade of any equality, and brings Egypt one step closer to being a full Shari'ah atate.

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