The Muslim Brotherhood’s political party on Monday dismissed allegations that Islamists dominate the constituent assembly, saying they only comprise 49 percent of the body that will write Egypt’s new constitution.
The Freedom and Justice Party parliamentary bloc said in a statement that MPs and public figures affiliated with Islamist parties — including the FJP, Nour Party and Jama’a al-Islamiya’s Construction and Development Party — only make up 49 percent of the constituent assembly.
The statement said 51 percent of the assembly’s members represent other groups in society.
Critics say the 100-member panel tasked with drafting the new constitution includes nearly 60 Islamists. They also say the selection process was not subject to broad discussions among lawmakers.
Parliament elected only six women and six Christians to the constituent assembly.
Many secular political forces have withdrawn from the assembly, saying it does not represent the whole society.
The FJP statement went on to say they discussed all the nominees from 141 institutes and syndicates, as well as nominations by individual MPs.
The party said that in its discussion, it was determined to have balanced professional and geographical representation, as well as representatives of political parties, youth, students, Copts, women and Egyptian expatriates, according to standards of experience and profession, as well as how many nominating votes each received.
