Egypt’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood says it will not take part in a protest to demand a greater role for Islamic law, or Shariah, in the constitution now being written, because agreement on the issue is near.
The Brotherhood dominates the panel tasked with writing the document. It said in a statement Wednesday that it will not take part in Friday’s planned demonstration.
The group says the constitution must be based on Shariah, in line with wording in the previous charter, but radical groups and more ultraconservative Muslims are demanding it be more strongly rooted in Islamic law.
The Brotherhood says the panel has broadly agreed on the constitution’s wording.
Secular groups have expressed concern that Islamists may use the constitution to impose a strict interpretation of Shariah and limit freedoms.
