Egypt’s Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly passed a rushed draft of a constitution early Friday to ease public anger against President Mohamed Morsi’s expanded powers and preempt an expected court decision to disband the chamber this weekend.
The proposed constitution states that the nation will be governed by the “principles” of Islamic law, the same wording in the charter under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak. But liberal critics argue that the language in certain articles of the constitution is open to interpretation and could allow conservative Islamists to impose a rigid version of sharia law.
The draft was quickly sent to the presidential palace in a beat-the-clock bid against an anticipated ruling by the nation’s highest court to dissolve the assembly Sunday. Morsi’s promise to protect the chamber from judicial oversight led to his decree last week to broaden his powers, which ignited protests and clashes across the country.
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