Tensions rise on eve of Egyptian referendum
Egyptian Islamists brandishing swords clashed with opponents of a draft constitution Friday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria as tensions rose on the eve of a referendum on the sharply disputed charter that has plunged the country into weeks of turmoil.
At least 19 people were reported injured in the violence in Alexandria, which broke out after an ultraconservative cleric urged worshippers to vote “yes” and described the opposition as “followers of infidels.”
The crisis pits Egypt’s newly empowered Islamists against the country’s liberals and supported by a large sector of apolitical moderate Muslims. Both sides stepped up their campaigns after weeks of violence and harsh divisions that have turned Saturday’s vote into a fight over Egypt’s post-revolutionary identity.
Critics already have raised concern over the legitimacy of the document after most judges said they would not supervise the vote as stipulated by law. Rights groups voiced fears of fraud and the opposition said a decision to stretch the vote two rounds to make up for the shortage of judges left the door open for initial results to sway voter opinions.
On Friday, thousands of Islamists filled a square in northern Cairo, raising pictures of President Mohammed Morsi, who has insisted the referendum will begin on Saturday as scheduled despite accusations the entire process has been rushed.
A few kilometres away, the opposition chanted for a “no” vote in a sit-in.
Religious authorities had issued orders that mosques should not be used to manipulate the vote, but several clerics, especially in conservative southern areas, took to the pulpit to tell their congregations that voting in favour of the constitution is seeking victory for Islam.
“Voting yes is like jihad for the sake of God,” Sheik AbdelAkher Hamad told worshippers in the southern city of Assuit. “It preserves Egypt from evils and from those who want to sabotage Islam and Muslims.”
The crisis began when Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a decree on Nov. 22 giving himself and the assembly writing the draft immunity from judicial oversight so the document could be finalized before an expected court ruling dissolving the panel. The panel has been disbanded before over illegality of its composition since it included legislators.
On Dec. 1, the densely written document was then passed by an 85-member assembly mostly composed of Islamists in a marathon session despite a walkout by secular activists and Christians. Morsi rushed it to a vote scheduled for the next two Saturdays.
Many fear that it would be next to impossible to amend the constitution if the draft passes and Islamists continue to dominate the parliament in upcoming elections.
Most of Egypt’s judges are refusing to monitor the vote, according to the powerful judges union, although authorities said they would be able to meet the legal obligation to have a judge at each polling station.
More than 51 million people are registered to vote, with more than 6,000 polling stations in 10 provinces, including Cairo and Alexandria in the first round on Saturday.
The Carter Center, the international group founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that has been monitoring Egyptian voting since last year’s uprising, said it would not deploy monitors for the referendum because of the government’s late release of monitoring regulations.