Christians threaten to quit Egypt constitution panel

Protest comes as ultraconservative Muslims push to add a strict definition of Islamic law into the country’s constitution

By MARIAM RIZK 7 November 2013, 9:54 pm

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Illustrative photo of Egyptian security forces standing guard at a Coptic Christian church, October 20, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Amr Mohsen)

CAIRO (AP) — Christians on a committee rewriting Egypt’s constitution have threatened to quit the panel over disputes on portions pertaining to Islamic law in the country.

Egypt’s ultraconservative al-Nour Party has pushed adding a portion defining the Islamic, or Sharia, law that will be recognized in the constitution. Critics warn doing so could allow for stricter interpretations of what Sharia is.

Safwat El-Bayadi, a representative of Christians on the panel, said Thursday they might withdraw to “voice our opinion.” The Islamist version of the constitution has yet to come up for a vote, but the Christians fear Islamists might push the issue.

Amending the constitution is the first step in a road map adopted by military-backed interim authorities to restart democracy in Egypt. A public referendum on the rewritten constitution is expected to take place a month after they finish a draft.