MENASource

Top News: Brotherhood Seeks President with “Islamist Orientation”

By Mara Revkin

A member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Shura Council, Ali Bateekh, specified criteria for a presidential candidate the group will support, while reiterating that the Brotherhood will not endorse one of its own members or any candidate belonging to an Islamist party or movement.  However, Bateekh said the candidate “should have an Islamist orientation,” (although not […]

Beyond NGOs: The Battle for Egypt

By Bahey Eldin Hassan

Up until two days ago, Egyptian-American relations were facing their biggest crisis since June 1967, threatening a political, diplomatic, military, and security alliance that has endured for three decades. The crisis began with the arbitrary raid of pro-democracy NGOs, including American organizations. An international uproar ensued, which has at least temporarily been relieved with the […]

NGO Trial to Resume March 8

By Mara Revkin

Egypt has appointed new judges to hear the trial of 43 NGO employees, after six Americans among those charged left the country with nearly $5 million in bail posted.  The first hearing in the new trial is scheduled for March 8.

Top News: Brotherhood Reacts to Lifting of Travel Ban

By Mara Revkin

Leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood reacted negatively to the Egyptian government’s decision to lift the travel ban on NGO employees. "The departure of the Americans who were initially banned from travelling is the most dangerous thing that happened after the revolution," FJP MP Akram El-Shaer said. El-Shaer said that the government refuses to explain […]

On Sharia, Civil Society, and Religious Identity in Egypt: A Response to Khaled Saad

By Kurt Werthmuller

On February 27th, Khaled Saad, an Egyptian legal consultant at the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative in Egypt, insightfully argued here in EgyptSource that ”the most immediate threat to religious freedom, if one exists, lies not in amending Article 2 [of the current Egyptian constitution, which identifies Islamic law as the principal source of […]

Video: Timeline for Choosing Constituent Assembly Starts Countdown to Polarization

By Mara Revkin

On March 1, an anonymous parliamentarian from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party revealed new details on the timeline and procedures for forming Egypt’s 100-member constituent assembly, a body that is bound by the military-decreed interim constitution to draft the country’s new charter.  The Constitutional Declaration issued by the ruling Supreme Council of the […]

Travel Ban Lifted for Americans, but Will Egyptian Civil Society Be Left Behind?

By Tarek Radwan

It seems the US State Department’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy may have paid off. Reuters reported, yesterday, that the Americans in the case of Egypt’s foreign-funded NGOs will no longer be barred from travel. Without a doubt, officials on both sides are breathing a sigh of relief as this move could mark the first step toward a […]

Top News: ElBaradei Criticizes ‘Intervention in Judiciary Work’

By Mara Revkin

Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei criticized what he called “intervention in judiciary work” in the trial of NGO employees. On his Twitter account, ElBaradei wrote that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the case, intervening in judicial matters “kills” democracy. The three presiding judges recused themselves on February 28 from the trial of 43 foreign and […]

Top News: Presidential Election Slated for May 23-24

By Mara Revkin

Egypt’s presidential election will take place May 23-24 with results expected on June 21, according to the head of the Election Commission, Farouk Sultan. The SCAF has pledged to turn over power to a civilian government after a new president is chosen, but it has not set a date for the transfer.

Top News: Parliament Approves Presidential Elections Amendments

By Mara Revkin