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Egypt’s Referendum Abroad: A Mixed Affair

By Nahla Samaha

Despite a growing polarization between Morsi’s supporters and the opposition as a result of controversy surrounding the draft constitution, Egyptian expats have already completed their vote, and results have begun to emerge. The expat referendum vote, originally scheduled to begin on Saturday December 8th, was postponed as a result of violent clashes that broke out […]

Top News: Judiciary to Investigate Referendum Violations

By Egypt Source

The minister of justice has appointed judges to investigate all reported violations during the first round of the referendum on the constitution.  GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION Opposition to protest referendum at Tahrir, presidential palace Opposition movements will protest in Tahrir Square and in front of Ettehadiya Palace Tuesday, against what they allege were vote rigging attempts […]

Egypt and a “Failure of Leadership”

By Tarek Radwan

The Arab Spring has produced and reproduced a number of wonky clichés in its wake – the term “Arab Spring” itself is no exception.  From the development of a “new language” to describe the various uprisings to recommendations for “engagement” with one political actor or another, commentators and policy-makers employ vague terms that others may […]

Sectarian Language as a Political Tool

By Basil El Dabh

"Someone is pulling us into side battles and saying 80 percent of the people who were in front of Al-Ittahadeya yesterday and the past days were Copts. We and Copts are partners in the homeland and we will not be dragged into sectarian strife,” said Khairat El Shater, deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood in […]

Top News: Egypt’s National Salvation Front Calls for Protests Against Rigged Referendum

By Egypt Source

For an interactive map of the first round results from the referendum on the constitution (in Arabic) click here. For unofficial results from Ahram Online, click here. For an unofficial breakdown by Egypt Independent, click here.

Egypt’s Constitutional Referendum: An Overview

By Nervana Mahmoud

Following weeks of violence, casualties, allegations, and counter-allegations, Egyptians voted in the first leg of a referendum on an Islamist-backed draft constitution.   This is not just about a draft constitution; in a way it is a mandate about President Mohamed Morsi and his party, the Muslim Brotherhood, and their respective popularity or lack of […]

219: A Detailed Cultural Translation of Egypt’s Draft Constitution’s Most Controversial Article

By Ramy Yaacoub

Author’s Disclaimer: The author is neither a lawyer nor a theological scholar, if someone can offer a better translation for the theological terms please step forward. There are many articles within Egypt’s draft constitution up for a referendum on December 15 that raise suspicion and are points of contention for a fairly large segment of […]

Egypt’s Draft Constitution: A Round-Up

As Egyptians gear up to go to the polls on Saturday to vote on a draft constitution that has been the subject of fierce debate, voting has been underway in Egyptian consulates and embassies around the world. Opponents of President Mohamed Morsi and the draft constitution are now encouraging voters to go to the polls […]

A Constitution of Political Appeasement / دستور الترضيات السياسية

By Yussef Auf

As was to be expected, the drafting of Egypt’s constitution has produced an unsound text, filled with flaws. Among these many significant flaws, a number of articles have been included in the constitution for no other reason but to provide a means of appeasing certain political groups or to address certain segments of society. This […]

US Policy Toward Egypt Paved with Good Intentions

By Michele Dunne

Egyptians have been walking the road to hell over the past few weeks, characterized by a frightening polarization between Islamists and non-Islamists and a harsh battle of wills between the president and the judiciary.