(Photo by Ahmed AlMalky/DNE)
Amr Moussa, chairman of the 50-member Constituent Assembly tasked with amending the 2012 constitution, said the amended constitution will address all Egyptians’ ’ needs.
In an international press conference held at the Shura Council on Sunday, Moussa said the assembly is trying to produce a constitution that deals with all Egyptians without discrimination.
Article 2 of the constitution states that Islamic Sharia is the main source of legislation, Moussa said. “The constitution also gives non-Muslims the right to resort to their religious legislations regarding their personal and religious affairs,” he added. “Yet, the fact that we are in the 21st century must be taken into consideration. The constitution will address issues Egyptians face now and are likely to face in the future, amid respecting our basic principles and beliefs.”
Before the conference, Moussa visited the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) alongside an assembly delegation and met with court members. Moussa later said that the visit was to voice the Constituent Assembly’s respect to the SCC and to listen to its members’ proposals regarding constitutional amendments.
Addressing opposition to the constituent assembly, Moussa said all opponents must be heard, in accordance with the right to the expression of opinion. Several Islamist movements, such as Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya and the Salafist Call, are accusing the Constituent Assembly of drafting a constitution which breaches Islamic principles.
Moussa was appointed as chairman of the assembly during its first session on 8 September. A prominent diplomat and former Secretary General of the Arab League, Moussa presented himself as a hardcore politician when he ran for the 2012 presidential elections.
