Shariah-based Egypt charter rushed to vote

An assembly drafting Egypt’s new Constitution yesterday maintained the previous Constitution’s principles of Islamic law, Shariah, as the main source of legislation, as it rushed through the approval process in the face of objections from an opposition that argues more time is needed, Hurriyet reports.

It also agreed to a clause stating that the principles of Christian and Jewish legal traditions would guide the personal and religious affairs of people belonging to those faiths.

The panel voted on the Constitution article by article yesterday, and unanimously approved keeping the formulation from the past Constitution, which was suspended after a popular uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak in early 2011.

Article 2 states that “Islam is the state religion and the Arabic language is its official language. The principles of Islamic Shariah are the main source of legislation.”