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President Mursi's decree granting himself expansive new powers
has enraged many of his liberal opponents, further dividing Egypt
November 25, 2012
CAIRO, Egypt (AWR) – Egyptian opposition groups are calling for more protests against President Muhammad Mursi, who has issued a controversial constitutional decree that grants him wide-ranging new powers that many of his opponents say are dictatorial.
The decree places President Mursi's decisions above judicial oversight until a new parliament is elected, a privilege many say was not even enjoyed by his predecessor, ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. The declaration also barred courts from dissolving an Islamist-dominated assembly that is writing a new constitution.
President Mursi, an Islamist, says he does not want sole control of the country and that the move is necessary to remove the deadlock that has complicated Egypt's transition process as it moves from three decades of Mr. Mubarak's authoritarian rule. But liberal groups and many judges, who complain they were not consulted in advance, claim the move amounts to a power grab.
Thousands of Egyptians took to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to protest President Mursi's decree, and clashes broke out across the country. The offices of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party were burned and ransacked in Alexandria and other cities. Opposition groups say major protests are planned for Tuesday.
In this week's newsletter, AWR Chief Editor Cornelis Hulsman says consensus is necessary in order to move an increasingly divisive Egypt forward. "Islamists and non-Islamists have to realize that they cannot build the country without each other," says Hulsman."They need each other and need to build toward consensus."
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