Egypt is writing its constitution, which is hopefully going to entrench a civil and democratic state of Egypt that preserves rights of all Egyptians without discrimination based on race, color or religion. This is how constitutions usually work: They underscore the basic rights and principles to ensure rights and equality among all citizens, then comes the laws to explain and carry out such rights and principles.
Currently, there is a big debate concerning Article III that states that the principles of the legislations of Egyptian Christians and Jews are the main source of their personal and religious affairs as well as choosing their spiritual leaders. This is how 2012 constitution has stated.
Therefore, as the 50-members committee is working on amending the 2012 constitution, many people are calling to amend that article too in order to ensure the equality among all citizens by giving such rights to all Egyptians.
Such proposal provoked big debate inside the committee and all over Egypt between supporters and opposers. Many of them forgot about religious minorities that don’t belong to Judaism, Christianity or Islam and that they have the right to exist and live in peace in their own country. If they are good citizens enough to obey the law and do their taxes, how come their basic rights are neglected and opposed in the constitution!
Some people take the debate to a whole new level by accusing Al-Azhar and the Church by approving all other religions and encouraging people to follow them against Islam and Christianity in case they are given some rights in the constitution! Such ideas aim to scare the community rather than protecting it. Additionally, there are rules and laws to protect the community against any potential threats.
We have suffered a lot during drafting the 2012 constitution after the domination of one faction to all rights. We need a fair constitution that protects the rights of all Egyptians without discrimination based on race, color or religion.
