Islamist party unveils strategy to support new Egypt constitution
Al-Noor Party said it will not use religious propaganda to support win voters’ support for the charter
Egypt’s Islamist Salafi Nour Party said on Saturday that it had formed a committee to mobilize voters in favor of the newly drafted constitution.
Shaaban Abdul Aleem, a member of the ultra-conservative party, told Al Arabiya News Channel that the party endorsed the draft constitution because it “preserves the Islamic identity of Egypt.”
Abdul-Aleem stressed said “religious propaganda” will not be part of its strategy to amass support for the new charter.
“We will not use religious propaganda or attempt to influence voters religiously through our campaign, as we are not a religious based party, although we refer to Islam and Shari’a as a higher reference, which is constitutional,” he said.
“The mobilization will focus on convincing our supporters and sympathizers that the constitution preserves the Islamic identity of Egypt,” Abdul-Aleem added.
The party said it is considering several options to gather support including holding town hall meetings to explain the new clauses of the constitution. It is also hoping to work with other political parties, using their respective networks to reach people in remote areas to guarantee a high turnout at the polls.
According to Abdul-Aleem, al-Noor will prepare leaflets that explain the four interpretations of the now altered second clause and to distribute them to the party’s supporters and Salafi sympathizers.
Additionally, younger members of the party will start a social media campaign to mobilize supporters.
The party is relying on the support of the Salafi movement leaders in the governorates and its deputy Sheikh Yasser Borhami, who is already gathering support in the governorates and meeting with local leaders to gain their support.
The mobilization campaign will pave the way for what is anticipated to be larger scale mobilization in the upcoming legislative elections.
Responding to interim president Adli Mansour’s attempt to amend the preamble of the constitution, Abdul-Aleem said: “The president doesn’t have this right, especially because the new constitution is written by the committee of 50 and they approved it and presented the final draft to the president.”
“As for some terminology changes, such as the civil government or civil cabinet, these issues were answered and there has been no manipulation or change in the text before it was submitted to the interim president,” he added.
-
‘Mistakes’ found in Egypt’s draft charter
It remains unclear if Egypt’s interim president will return the draft constitution back to the drafting committee Middle East -
Salafists back Egypt’s new constitution
Egypt’s second largest Islamist party, al-Nour, said it will support the draft charter in the country’s upcoming referendum Middle East -
Egypt president ‘to approve’ constitution
The draft charter strips out Islamic language written into the constitution last year by an Islamist-dominated assembly Middle East -
Egypt's draft constitution to be concluded on Thursday
The 50-member Committee named by Egypt’s Interim President Adly Mansour in September was tasked with amending the draft of the new constitution News -
Egypt: Arrests shake charter panel
The arrest of several protesters angered members the panel drafting Egypt’s constitution Middle East -
Foreign NGOs to monitor Egypt constitution referendum
Referendum to be held mid-January and overseen by 73 local and foreign non-governmental organizations Middle East -
Egypt’s constitutional panel votes on draft
The panel tasked with amending Egypt’s suspended constitution is voting on a first draft of the charter amid deep divisions over portions on the ... Middle East -
Tracking Egypt’s Islamic identity in the constitution
The drafting of the new Egyptian constitution has been making headlines since the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood rule. Several articles in the 2012 ... Analysis -
Egypt draft constitution to be ready by November
A new Egyptian constitution replacing the one suspended after President Mohammad Mursi’s ouster will be put to a referendum by the end of ... Middle East -
Egypt appoints Amr Moussa as head of constitutional panel
Egyptian former presidential candidate Amr Moussa has been appointed head of the constitution-drafting committee, it was announced on Sunday. The ... Middle East -
Egypt names 50-member constitution panel with few Islamists
A 50-member panel has been announced to draw up a revised constitution in Egypt, the country’s interim president Adly Mansour said on Sunday. ... Middle East