Egyptians speak out on their perceptions of upcoming constitutional amendments
CAIRO: In his speech before parliament last week, President Hosni Mubarak promised democratic reforms and constitutional amendments. Of course all the politicians sat up and took notice, but do ordinary people care? The Daily Star Egypt set out to find out.
As a citizen of this country for sure I care about constitutional reform. I feel that we own nothing in this country and we don’t choose anything even if it is through elections. Sometimes I watch the Egyptian news and political debates as if I am watching news of Iraq and Palestine. But we do nothing but talk about Iraq, Palestine and Egypt.Bassem Mahmoud, pharmacist.
I don’t really care about any reforms. I know nothing about the constitution except article number two, which talks about Islam as the official religion of the country. I don’t know the other articles and don’t even know who wrote this constitution. I won’t know anything about these reforms either.Ahmad Asem, greengrocer.
This constitution is not for us. It is made for a certain category of people. This category has the ability to change whatever is in this constitution according to their needs. We all remember the amendment of article 76, which was quickly charged with defects. And also the elections accepted the reform. Elections in Egypt depend on the illiterate majority of the population who give their vote to the one who pays more.Eman Hassan, physician.
I don’t have any trust in the government or anything coming from the NDP since the last parliamentary elections. When I voted against the NDP candidate, they tore up my card and threw it in my face. They don’t want real reform. They just want to ensure the passing of the big chair from the father to the son.Ibrahim Mahmoud, physician.
I feel that I don’t want to interfere in any political talk in Egypt. There are certain faces that when I see them in the news I feel depressed. I can tell you what the reform will mean now. They will allow any candidate from the political parties but they will not allow independent candidates. This is, of course, because Muslim Brotherhood members don t have any party although they are the real danger for the NDP.Hussein Al-Khodr, student.
I don’t care about constitutional reform, and I haven’t believed in it since the moment it was declared. I don t think that any sane person does. I feel it s like an unprofessional trick to gain more time in an endless game.Eman Kamel, translator.
There is a movie called “Ayez Haey (I Want My Rights) in which the main character reads the constitution by chance. He tried to sell his share of the country s property. Very few people read the constitution. Even the elite and educated people don t read it. Believe me, nobody cares and those who do have nothing to do with that reform.Sayyed Adel, law student.
Will there be another constitutional reform? I don’t know actually. I don’t follow the news. But will there be elections to issue it? I agree now – to avoid all the noise that takes place during elections.Manal Mostafa, housewife.
