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Subscribe to RSSEgypt's president Mohamed Morsi, who had granted himself sweeping new powers that would have made all of his rulings immune to judicial review, is facing continued public outcry despite his decision to soften the decree by limiting those rulings to 'sovereign' matters. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
News analysis
Last week’s sweeping power grab by Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has thrown the country’s political elite into crisis, and prompted tens of thousands of Egyptians to take to the streets in protest. But much of the fury over his most recent moves probably has more to do with the way he chose to act than what he has actually done.
The conflict roiling the Arab world’s most populous country has been painted by some international observers and many regular Egyptians as a struggle between autocratic Islamists and democratic secularists. Indeed, Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood party have angered many with how they managed to win power democratically and then tried to consolidate it by decrees.
In a move quickly pounced on by critics, Morsi’s decree last week gave the body charged with writing a draft constitution two more months to finish its work. The decree essentially prevents challenges to the president's rule until the end of the two-month transitional period so that any decision made by Morsi cannot be questioned by the judiciary.
If the so-called constituent assembly, the elected constitutional body that is now dominated by Islamists, would have dissolved, it would have been seen as a victory by many liberal and secular Egyptians.
But Morsi’s decree will allow the assembly to finish its essential work, Henry Smith of the international consultancy Control Risks told NBC News.
'Leave, leave': Egyptians gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest president's decree
"There was a risk that the body writing the constitution would be disbanded by legal judgments but according to his decree, we should see a draft in February," he added. "And if that is decided then we could have a new constitution by mid-2013."
As the struggle of the constituent assembly shows, Morsi and his government have been locked in a struggle with the judiciary.
And however dictatorial Morsi’s recent moves may have been, the judiciary is no paragon of democracy. Indeed, even many of the Brotherhood’s opponents think the judiciary is corrupt and packed with loyalists of deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak.
The lack of accountability for the killing of protesters during the 2011 revolution illustrates why many Egyptians do not trust the judiciary. None of the former regime officials brought to trial for these deaths has been convicted.
The judiciary also upheld the dissolution of parliament, halting essential efforts, such as reforming fiscal and economic policies meant to liberalize and jump-start the economy.
According to liberal and secular parties, the president didn't consult with them before issuing his decree on Thursday -- a claim disputed by Morsi's Freedom and Justice Party — thus losing the opportunity to be seen as a leader willing to reach across political divides and interested in creating consensus.
And those protesting his power grab have reason to be suspicious. After all, Mubarak promised to be a one-term president at the beginning of what ended up as a 30-year rule.
In the end, Egypt is new to the art of politics and its actors unused to sharing power and debating issues publicly.
As international consultant Smith says: "Putting aside some of the autocratic elements of his recent decree, Morsi’s move could be seen as a positive move."
Thousands of Egyptians flood Cairo's Tahrir Square in protest of President Morsi, demanding he rescind decrees that granted him near-absolute powers. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Egypt.
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More proof of Obama's genius, the he encouraged this evolving cesspool to develop in Egypt. Thank you, Mr. President. Salaam.
Obama is least guilty! He hardly had four years. You ask McCains and co on Libya!
Ask Bushes, McCains, Romney's and other Christian rights, oil companies and their lobbyists on why they saved fountainhead of Sunni Islamic extremism, Saudi Arabia and other barbaric and bigoted Sunni Arab League rulers with Iraqi wars?
Where was the need to remove Saddam and get thrashed from all sides?
Now "Salaam" from anyone can't save their House of Saud and other Sunni Arab League rulers for long.
British invented Saudi Arabia and its House of Saud and Pakistan.
US, British, French and others kept them on the map!
House of Saud, a strict Wahhabi, is not even tolerating Prophet Mohammad’s heritage places. House of Saud consists of a megalomaniac, despotic and bigoted ruler and highly corrupt, despotic, bigoted seventh century mindset 5000 princes and princesses.
In Mecca, the house of one of the wives of Mohammed was demolished and converted into public lavatories. Mohammed’s birth place may vanish with plans to have skyscrapers, mega shopping malls and a Grand mosque!
In Medina, ten years ago a mosque of grandson of Mohammed was dynamited and the religious police were celebrating on this. There are plans to pull down three seventh century mosques in future.
Anyone can jump up and down and dance, the House of Saud and other Sunni Arab League rulers will be history sooner than expected.
Extreme religious madness is the worst way of killing oneself! Here Sunni Islamic one is the worst, history has seen.
Even the US, British, French and allies can't save them for long!
Some do blunders and then point fingers on least guilty!
Like Carter Clinton and other Dems had nothing to do with this? Wake up! This happened because Obama went to Eygpt and told studendts essentially they held the power for democracy! The Arab Spring started on Obama's watch, he bombed Libya, and lost 4 Americans later, he encouraged the rebels in Syria, so what have you got there? Typical leftwinger...can't see past your nose...
Well that is a good thing if now they are able to stand up for their rights and crush those who want to abuse their power over them.
We aren't ever scared there or here.
You try and abuse your powers, we will retaliate not only in Egypt but here as well.
It is time for the US to hold companies responsible that take from consumers and judges, lawmakers and the latter who abuse their power in this nation.
RETALIATE wherever there is unjust and abuse by individuals or governments
all around the world.
Welcome to a new error of "NO MATTER HOW BIG, YOU WON'T TRAMPLE ON ME"
If you do we will retaliate....
POWER TO THE PEOPLE AND TO WHAT IS RIGHT...
""""WAR IS PEACE AND PEACE IS WAR""""
Where there is peace there are those being taken advantage of....
Where there is war there is the prevention of being taken advantage of.
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS......
Actually protests and clashes with police might be a good sign. People are angry, but they're expressing their anger in a pretty docile manner. Conversely, when Saddam was deposed and a new government installed the Iraqis didn't even bother protesting and immediately set about pulling people out of their vehicles and executing them onsite and pillaging anything they could get their hands on. Kind of like whats happening in Syria right now.
Nothing like that is happening in Egypt. I mean, people clash with police here in the states (sometimes over dumb stuff like the outcome of a football game).
Just because you see teargas doesn't mean the society is descending into chaos.
Let´s hope this is the beginning of the end of the Muslim Brotherhood and that they get put back in prison where they belong.They are an Islamic terrorist group and a great danger all over the world including the U.S and Europe.They are going to do a number on Egypt just as that other Islamic finatic is doing to what was once a secular and pluralistic country.I´m not a great fan of military governments, but for the the time being the military would be a great improvement to Morsi and his gang of sharia terrorists.Read the history of the Bro..it clearly states what they are about.The writer of this article is trying to put a rididulous spin on Morsi totalitarian ambitions. To be blunt,where does NBC dig up these writers.?They are often so pro Arab and Muslim that they do a lot of harm. And with the very high stakes of Islamic terrorism underming most of the non Muslim world.it´s a VERY big threat!
this is about the welfare of the egyptian people themselves, none of this article mentioned the influence of the muslim bro on other countries, they have the right to pick whoever they want and protest at whatever they like, thats called a transition to democracy. So stop coming on here talking on what the government will do internationaly because clearly you only care about yourself, not how the government will improve the lives of the average egyptian!
And for the sake of argument, what do you mean "pro arab and muslim", dont discriminate against people due to their faith or where they come from my friend
Please also take the time to read the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) and see where the US is now. Good Luck.
"The conflict roiling the Arab world’s most populous country has been painted by some international observers and many regular Egyptians as a struggle between autocratic Islamists and democratic secularists."
Democratic secularists should not give even breathing time to Morsi and his Sunni Muslim blood hounding Nazis, MB and Salaffis.
The Sunni Saudi bigoted beasts will not behave much different than what they have been doing in many Muslim nations and non-Muslim nations.
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB, Taliban and other label ones), are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days.
They are indulging in rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims (Darfur, S. Sudan, Nigeria and spreading like wild fire in many regions and Muslims (Libya, Yemen, Mali, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places).
Even in Syria, if Assad is overthrown by Sunni Islamic religious Nazis like al-Qaida, MB, the conditions of Christians will be unbearable just like Iraq.
Pakis and Sunni Saudis and co are responsible for 80 percent of world problems including economic ones.
Examine the devastations with Iraqi wars and now sanctions on Iranian oil and the resultant oil price manipulations.
Sunni Saudis and co are making the lives of their own people miserable by their Islamic religious madness to the intolerable levels.
Egyptian MB and Salaffi, Sunni bigoted beasts, will only give hatred, tears, rapes, lootings and killings to Egyptians.
We can't repair or control Sunni Islamic religious Nazis' madness. Let us keep away.
US, British, French, Germans and others should remove sanctions on Iraian oil.
Iran's WMDs are a crap. Iran can get nukes from Pakis.
The brotherhood is no more evil than Republicans are in this country.
So....
We will trade you the end of the Republican party for the end of the Muslim Brotherhood.
I'm surprised there haven't been prison attacks and jail breaks in this country for the illegal incarcerating of many minorities and poor whites.
They are holding many people there illegally and if it happens because of the abuse of power by this government for $$$$ and power I'm on the side of who is right and that is the people incarcerating for the FLUFF laws created by the Evil Republican Party...
Why could people not see this coming? Morsi just admitting that he is part of the muslim brotherhood should have told these people something. I can only hope that Egyptians are not stupid, just brain washed by the evil virus known as islam. The koran surely spreads this disease and mohammed is surely patient zero. If you live your life by an fictional, evil book written about a murderer of innocents, a liar, a thief, an adulterer and a child fornicator, this must surely be the most ignorant thing a human being can do. If this is your idea of a prophet, you quite obviously have nothing to contribute to a civilized society and you have my permission to end yourself. Please do it quickly and leave the rest of the intelligent citizens of the planet out of it. The sooner the stench created by these virus carriers leaves the planet, the better for all of humanity.
So, with Mursi's decree and the "draft" constitution online - can you honestly say this (Mursi) is "a transition to democracy?"
Egyptians not affiliated with the MB, WANT the ARMY to take control back.
I am NOT arguing with the rest of your post at all Lewis - only that one statement. Any country - like the old Soviet Union - has MANY problems when they "shift" to "democracy" - the Egyptians have never had a democracy and as a people, they do like rules that are clear - I would say that for every human - you cannot have a society with no rules and essentially - at least to regular Egyptians, they feel discombobulated (for lack of a better word) under Mursi. Many did not like Mubarak, but the rules were clear and respected, - now the MB runs around and makes a new rule a day - yet it's not a "legal" rule but if you don't want to be beat up or go to jail, you better follow whatever the MB makes up for that day. This is not the democracy they wanted, they wanted to part of the government and still have CLEAR rules and laws - that did not happen - I hope the Generals that Mursi kicked out, take back their positions and oust Mursi and the MB.
I have an Egyptian friend who is so scared for his family who still lives in Egypt. Everyday, they tell him what is "really" happening over there - it is very upsetting. If you look at the US Embassy pages in Cairo - you will see they are 30 days behind in processing visas because of "overwhelming" demand. Egyptians are very scared at this point - they are certainly not stupid people - no matter their religion and at least on post has hit the nail on the head - thank you Ms. Rarick!
Sue Rarick -
Gosh, what a shocker. never in a million years would I have dreamed this would happen.
The way NBC is handling this they are fighting to become as relevant as Fox.
Sue, when I read this article ,to me it sounds like MSNBC is trying to tell Morsi how he should take control of the government. He should be a little more discrete about it , not all at one time, a little bit at a time ,until he has all the control and the people have none. What they are really saying is ,Egypt should set back and watch how Obama does it ,now that's a master Pro at work.
muslims+democracy=absurdity
I don't see how this could be seen as a a positive movement for the people of Egypt. If that is the case they wouldn't be riots in the streets again. I don't think the teargas filled air around their square has cleared up from the last protest and/or revolt.
Morsi'saim is to be another dictator or Pharaoh. That can be seen by all in Egypt. The hell with the rest of the world Egypt is the country trying to get their lives and country in order. The Muslim Brotherhood has little interest in nothing more than controlling another country with extreme Islamic radicals. Another Iran, possibly?
Obama supported this guy! Scary! When will Americans have to march to oust its tyrant? My mid 2013?
Five thousand years of authoritarian rule isn't something that can be swept away so easily. There is more to democracy than simply casting a vote, but we in the U.S. continue to perpetuate this notion. Morsi and the MB understood this, and so organization trumped ideals in Egypt's first election. A cease fire agreement followed by U.S. praise, which propped him up on the world stage, and he had his opening to dismiss the rule of law. No checks, no balances, and we're back to square one. It will be interesting to see where Egypt's military comes down on this one.
Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria may soon follow suit. Ask yourselves if we're closer to the second Caliphate or what we consider to be democracy in the ME.
News Analysis? Didn't that used to be called "opinion"?
No actions to decide winners in the battles/clashes between Shiites and Sunnis on whose Allah is greater.
We, the most hated infidels, should keep away!
Absolute power is the word. When MB with the Salafist Nours are concentrating all the powers of the government with Morsy's dicta/edicts bypassing judicial scrutiny (the last pillar of accountability,transparency) one is talking totalitarianism. Add to the mix wresting power from Trade Unions- negating constitutional guarantees for other religions (Copts,Sufis,Hebrews,et misc.) you have a real crisis -manmade at that. Morsy people just condemned to death two Coptic Christians for showing on their Facebook the American -Egyptian Copt's YouTube Video clip from the antiMohammedan movie. Anyone ask the Obama adm. about this? Freedom of expression? Freedom of Religion? Freedom from Tyranny? No, they are only pumps on the road. When judges,lawyers,engineers,trade union members,secularists,diplomats,women,youth,regular Joes are demonstrating against Morsy in order to have a secular democracy instead of a Totalitarian Sharia State with no freedoms. Is this Obama adm.'s Hungary 1956? Looks very much like it.
these guys and the middle east need to review their history
they were born from great civilaisations that used science and had a thirst for knowledge
algebra was born in the middle east - they had the house of wisdom second only to Alexandrias libary
they shared western and eastern science - they merged them and gave us great math and science
what happened to stop the advancement of man
they found battery's in a pyramid so they understood electricity
where the science gone
very interesting to watch, we expected something like this,after all, real meaningfull changes do take time to get to the noticeable stage, right?,, Mr Morsi should have been,must be! more carefull with the language, while his intentions were good, his execution of this has not been,..All those corruptors that are hangovers from the Mubarik period are still there, still thinking small and still corrupting the system at every opportubity[its how corruption functions after all],,and Morsi,s "decree" is an attempt to take them out of the system so a real democracy can develop,, nothing wrong with that,I for one strongly suspect those who are at risk of losing, are behind the protests etc,,I guess we could call it "growing pains",, so, lets not give up on this country or its people just yet,,or Morsi for that matter, if not him then some other would be in the same place,, can they learn? will they?, then what? and how?.. none are easy questions,, we look on with interest, ,.. btw,, why is it some take every little bit of a problem and sling blame at the President etc??..do they really think HE! is that involved?.. really?..ha ha...NOT!...thats the tough part of being the prez, or the PM, or whatever,, you are damned if you do, and damned if you dont,,on everything,..all the time,,which, btw is also an interesting social commentary,, some just like to to bitch we thinks, they dont care about what, or who, as long as they get "bitching time" in somewhere,,I never read those comments,,bbbbooooorrrriiiinnnggg!!, in the extreme I says,,but the rest? these I do read, yessir!,..
"As international consultant Smith says: "Putting aside some of the autocratic elements of his recent decree, Morsi’s move could be seen as a positive move."
so, if we just ignore what he actually did/said then this can be seen as a positive move
Mr. Mohyeldin is showing a bit of arrogance. I bet Egyptians would say that they have been practicing the art of politics for 4000 years
In the first official international experience comes the U.S. government estimates wrong political sick and derived from the escape from the battle for freedom against religious extremism to produce deficit deal of capitalist interests with religious extremism in the Gulf....
. America has wore Equation of obscene extremism dress and the Muslim Brotherhood and the religious state in Egypt against the civil state and civil liberties in Egypt
the free Egyptian judiciary and free Egyptian professional syndicates and the free Egyptian masses attacked this bad policy in order to protect the free future in the Middle East, Egypt is not Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan
The sad and scary thing about this article is how MSN attempts to put a smiley face on Morsi's power grab. Obama has said he envy's the power that dictators wield. How long will it be before Obama declares himself dictator?????