The National Association for Change (NAC) urged the Muslim Brotherhood to present guarantees for the preservation of the secular nature of the state if elections are conducted before a new constitution is drafted.
At a meeting two days ago at the clinic of Abdel Guelil Mostafa, general coordinator of the NAC, members said there should be guarantees that freedoms and democracy will be respected, and called for specific criteria for the formation of the panel which will draft Egypt’s new constitution.
Ahmed Drag, the NAC's assistant general coordinator, said secular political powers and the Brotherhood harbor fears of each other, adding that the NAC has asked the Brotherhood for certain guarantees if the elections are held before the new constitution is drafted.
Drag said the NAC is also awaiting the Brotherhood’s demands for specific guarantees if the constitution is drawn up before elections.
Meanwhile, several Brotherhood youth criticized statements by their Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie that described Egypt’s losses in previous wars against Israel and the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak as “divine retribution” for the detention of Brotherhood members.
They said these statements are mistimed, will force them into confrontations with other political powers, and provide an opportunity for others to find fault with the Brotherhood.
Islam Lotfy, one of the Brotherhood’s young members, said, “What the Supreme Guide said is not true because members of other political waves were also detained, such as communists,” he went on. “Besides, Egypt’s loss was a test for Muslim and Arab nations.” But Badie's words should not be seen as a form of gloating, he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
