Tamarod says ‘yes’ to new constitution

The Tamarod movement has launched a campaign in support of the draft constitution and the 2013 referendum, declaring that “the new constitution guarantees the rights of the peasant, the worker, the teacher, the fisherman and all segments of the Egyptian people.”

The grassroots organization, which campaigned for the removal of former President Mohamed Morsi, took part in the writing of the amended constitution, with two of its representatives, Mamdouh Badr and Mohamed Abdel Aziz, sitting on the 50-member draft constitution committee.

On Thursday, Tamarod launched a campaign to encourage citizens to vote in the constitution referendum, to be held in January. Using the slogan “Yes to the constitution,” the group made the announcement on its official Facebook page.

The decision to support the new constitution, the statement read, came after Tamarod members met with officials in governorates and electoral committees.

The group said that “the voting battle is a continuation of the implementation of the people's will, manifested in the road map, the January 25 revolution and the events of June 30 against injustice and terrorism.”

While saying that the constitutional draft is not perfect, the statement said it is better than the 1971 Constitution and the one that was drafted in 2012, during the rule of now-ousted President Morsi. Tamarod did, however, express concerns about the article allowing for the use of military trials for civilians.

Interim President Adly Mansour received the draft document on Tuesday, following a two-day vote on the amended constitution which ended late Sunday. On Wednesday, the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy announced it was opposed to the new document, while the Nour Party voiced its support.