The President’s formation of a 10-member expert committee of jurists responsible for amending the constitution has found controversy among Copts. Some remarked that the Coptic representation has been neglected in the committee  whereas others claimed that it is an apolitical technical committee that satisfies all parties.

Mahmūd Ramzī, member of the previous Shūrá Council, said that the committee does not include Copts in its formation, contrary to all expectations. For his part, Dr. ‘Īhāb Ramzī, another member of the previous Shūrá Council described the commission’s composition as defective. He stated that a 50-member committee should be formed and granted the right to amend the constitution without pre-determined frameworks. He stressed the a 10-member committee cannot determine the future of Egypt.

Other Coptic activists saw otherwise.  Coptic activist, Najīb Jibrā’īl, president of Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization (EUOHR) said that the “experts committee” is a purely technical committee that is responsible for selecting the constitution’s articles that require amending. He stated that its recommendations will be then be presented to the 50-member committee for further discussion. He also added that the credibility of the judges in the experts committee is based upon their political neutrality as judges. Likewise, Dr. Antūan ‘Adel, a leader of Maspero Youth Union, thought that this committee is a step towards consensus (ʿAbd al-Wahhab Shaʿbān, al-Wafd, July 23, pg. 5). This article has no link online.

Federica Raimondi and Daniela De Maria, Interns