"While demonstrating in Tahrir Square recently, I met one judge - a member of the "Committee of the Wise" - who would fall into this second group. He had long opposed the appointment of female judges and told me, "Stop talking about women and all that nonsense."
This group is trying to hijack the efforts of the young revolutionaries by talking about maintaining stability. It supports "reform" as a matter of making minor changes to the constitution, a document that was altered in 1971 to grant then-President Anwar Sadat his nearly pharaoh-like powers. The 1971 constitution makes Egypt's president the head of the executive branch and the head of state and gives the person in that office the right to interfere in all other branches of government. It also bestows broad immunities that shield the exercise of these powers from accountability. Minor tinkering with this document should not be part of Egypt's democratic future."
This group is trying to hijack the efforts of the young revolutionaries by talking about maintaining stability. It supports "reform" as a matter of making minor changes to the constitution, a document that was altered in 1971 to grant then-President Anwar Sadat his nearly pharaoh-like powers. The 1971 constitution makes Egypt's president the head of the executive branch and the head of state and gives the person in that office the right to interfere in all other branches of government. It also bestows broad immunities that shield the exercise of these powers from accountability. Minor tinkering with this document should not be part of Egypt's democratic future."
