The signing of the documents indicates the renewed commitment to renounce violence and to protect the rights of citizens from the use of excessive violence by security institutions. The document confirms that it is the duty of the state and its security institutions to protect the security of citizens, their safety, their rights and their constitutional freedoms in a framework that is respected by the law. It stresses the need to defend the rights of citizens to express themselves and to push for their legitimate demands during peaceful protests and demonstrations.
Various important political actors have expressed their opinions of the document. Among them are head of the Conference Party 'Amr Mūsá, former presidential candidate Hamdīn Sabāhī, president of the Free Egyptians Party and member of the NSF Dr. Ahmad Sa'īd, and finally Dr. Safwat 'Abd al-Ganī, member of the Shūrá Council of al-Jamā'ah al-Islāmīyah.
'Amr Mūsá is optimistic about the document. He confirms that the Azhar document is a prelude to control and lays the foundation for serious dialogue. He believes the document does not only signify an end to physical violence, but an end to verbal and literary violence as well. Additionally, Mūsá explains that the document contributes to finding a full agreement between the political forces to resolve the existing problems. Finally, he calls for the formation of a fact-finding committee that investigates the violence that has permeated, and continues to permeate the latest protests. Mūsá also wants to form a committee of jurists to amend a number of different articles in the constitution.
According to Sabāhī, the signing of the document illustrates that there exists a shared belief that the current trend of violence is not the way of the Revolution.
He stressed however, that he did not sign the document to bring an end to the third wave of the Revolution currently spreading over Egypt and that he will not support any agreement that does not condemn the authority’s use of violence against the Egyptian people.
On his part, Dr. Ahmad Sa'īd believes that despite the document being a positive initiative, discussions have only revealed the different views that exist within political Islam.
Finally, Dr. 'Abd al-Ghanī expressed his concern over the document. He claims it does not discriminate between who those carrying out violence and those who are just protesting. Additionally, it protects the authorities from being held responsible for the violence they have used against demonstrators. According to him, the document does not offer a way out of current crisis (Muhammad Hasan, Jamāl Abū al-Dahab and ‘Imād al-Dīn Sābir, al-Ahrām, Feb. 2). Read original text in Arabic.
