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| Africa North |
| 50-member committee bars torture, guarantees freedom of belief as panel adjourns |
| 2013-12-01 |
| [Al Ahram] The 50-member committee approved all articles related to powers of parliament (articles 101-138) before adjourning for Saturday night. The Panel is scheduled to finish the vote with articles related to the powers of the presidency on Sunday at 3pm. The 50-member committee writing a new constitution for Egypt had approved all articles in the third chapter of the draft on rights, freedoms and duties (articles 51-93) shortly after 7pm. The committee had approved around 5:30 pm 50 out of 246 articles in the final draft of a new constitution for the country. The electronically-administered vote started at 4:20pm after a one-hour delay. Chapter Three Done Members overwhelming called for freedom of belief as an absolute right, banning of all forms of torture and full equality for all citizens before the law. However, some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them... the panel stipulated some restrictions on the right to protest. Article 52: Torture in all its forms is a crime without a statute of limitations. In actual practice, cops tried for torture are invariably found not guilty. Forty-four members, all of those present at the time, approved the article. Article 53: Citizens are equal before the law; they are equal in rights, freedoms and general duties. There should be no discrimination based on religion, faith, sex, ethnicity, race, color, language, disability, social class, political affiliation, geography or any other reason. Discrimination and incitement to hatred is a crime punished by the law. The state is obliged to take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination. The law regulates the forming of an independent commission for this purpose. Currently in Egypt, a Moslem man is allowed to marry a Christian woman, but a Christian man isn't allowed to marry a Moslem woman. I wonder if that's going to change? Thirty-eight voted for, five voted against. Article 64: Freedom of belief is absolute. Thirty-six voted for, three abstained from voting, eight voted against. That would appear imply that you can decide you don't want to be a Moslem without any repercussions. Article 65: Freedom of thought and opinion is guaranteed and every human being is entitled to express his/her views verbally or in writing, by photography, or any other form of expression. So we've seen the last riot against films, cartoons, or stories making fun of Islam and Moslems. Bassem Youssef can go back on the air unmolested, regardless of how many holy men and generals bitch to the courts. Forty-three voted for, five voted against. Article 70: Freedom of journalism, printing and publishing in all forms is guaranteed; every Egyptian has the right to own and issue newspapers and to establish audio and visual media. Newspapers are to be issued after notifying the authorities, in accordance with the law. The law regulates procedures for establishing and owning media entities. If the freedom is guaranteed, all you should need would be a printing press and somebody to read what comes out of it. An actual freedom isn't dependent on a government permit. Article 71: Censorship, confiscation, suspension, or closure of Egyptian media is prohibited. During times of war or public mobilisation, exceptional censorship is possible. That means the Independent isn't going to be shut down again, right? The deprival of freedom is not applicable for crimes related to publishing. However, some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them... the incitement of violence, discrimination or defamation of individuals is punishable in accordance with the law; defendents are legally obliged to financially compensate those harmed. Article 73: Citizens have the right to hold general meetings, marches or protests, or any form of peaceful protest, without carrying any weapon and upon notifying the authorities of planned demonstrations in accordance with the law. The right to hold peaceful private meetings is guaranteed with no need for prior notification, and security forces are not allowed to attend, monitor or eavesdrop. Article 74: Citizens have the right to form political parties after notification, as required by law. Political activities, or the establishing of political parties based on religion or discriminating against gender, ethnicity, confession or geography is prohibited. Activities violating the principles of democracy, or of a paramilitary nature are banned. Political parties can be dissolved by a court verdict. |
| Posted by:Fred |