The never-ending Egyptian revolution
Article added on December 3, 2012
  
Egypt's Prime Minister Hashem Kandil has just assured Christiane Amanpour on CNN that the constitutional article that asked for the Al-Ashar University to check the compatibility of future laws with the Sharia is not mandatory. The Al-Ashar University will have a consultative role.

Christiane Amanpour played a tape from before the president's election showing Mohamed Morsi assuring that women's rights will be respected. Prime Minister Hashem Kandil repeated again that the constitution puts men and women on the same level and that women's rights will be respected. Kandil also repeated that the president's extra-ordinary powers, which currently put him above the judiciary in an unquestionable position, will end with the referendum on the constitution scheduled for December 15, 2012.

So far, nobody looks great in this never-ending Egyptian revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood seems on a road towards controlling all powers in Egypt. The infamous seven decrees conferring President Morsi virtually unlimited powers and the rush towards adopting a new constitution are just two steps in this direction. On the other hand, the Constitutional Court and the Egyptian judges are not only defending the rule of law and the separation of power, but they have also been protecting members of the old and corrupt Mubarak-regime. The judges have already dissolved the newly-elected parliament and where on the way to do the same regarding the Constitutional Assembly. As for the opposition, in the past, they had themselves called for action against Egypt's top prosecutor as well as several judges who continued to protect members of the Mubarak-regime. In the past, the moderate, secular, liberal, Coptic and female opposition have been disunited, that's why they have lost both the parliamentary and the presidential election. Unite and form a credible alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood and other religious parties.

Ever new gatherings in Tharir Square won't help. The Muslim Brotherhood, President Morsi and Prime Minister Kandil should respect the rights of women, minorities and religious minorities such as the Christians (Copts). Democracy is not the tyranny of the majority.

The Constitutional Court, the general prosecutor and the judges in general should be cleaned from remnants of the old regime in a transparent process.

The opposition should unite, fight with arguments and less in the streets. The opposition should try to win both the referendum as well as the next parliamentary election. In addition, the opposition has to come up with a credible agenda that gives hope to the 40% of Egyptians living below the poverty-line as well as the 40% of illiterate fellow citizens.

As long as the voters keep the last word in Egypt, hope for the establishment of a fully-functioning democracy remains intact. A never-ending revolution in a hysterical climate does not help anyone. All sides have their fair share of culpability for the current mess. They should all come to their senses, accept the decisions by the voters and respect other opinions and beliefs (ideological, political, moral, religious, etc.). If everyone respect the democratic process, Egypt will have a glorious future.

More articles about Egypt:
- Morsi and his plans for Egypt November 2012
- The new Egyptian government August 2012
- Morsi was the better choice July 2012
- Khairat Al-Shater is the presidential candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood 2012
- Mubarak has stepped down February 2011
- Torture and protests in Egypt January 2011