Egypt's Constituent Assembly to become an NGO

MENA, Tuesday 8 Jan 2013

Constitution-drafting assembly members to raise awareness of constitutional matters, Judge Hossam El-Gheriany says

Gheryani
Judge Hossam El-Gheryani, former head of the constituent assembly (Photo: Al-Ahram)

Egypt’s Constituent Assembly will become an non-governmental organisation (NGO) concerned with raising awareness about constitutional matters, the assembly’s former leader has said.

Hossam El-Gheriany made the announcement on Monday during an event held to honour members of the assembly.

The event was held at the army-owned El-Masah hotel in Heliopolis and was attended by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil, Shura Council leader Ahmed Fahmy and former vice-president Mahmoud Mekki.

The assembly was dissolved after it submitted the final draft of the constitution to President Mohamed Morsi on 1 December, 2012.

63.8 per cent of voters approved the new constitution in a public referendum.

"Over the coming days we will witness a real renaissance and a better future for Egypt now the constitution has been passed," said El-Gheriany.

The drafting process was heavily criticised by the opposition, which claimed the assembly was dominated by Islamists forces and did not produce a constitution representative of all Egyptians.

Short link: