Egypt’s new constitution was just approved, first after the overthrow of dictator Mubarak.
The constitution was adopted with 63.8% of the vote after the referendum held over two days earlier in the month, according to results announced by the elections commission.
However, the final turnout was just 32.9% of Egypt’s nearly 52 million voters.
It is not exactly a constitution compatible with a liberal democracy.
Opposition groups staged mass protests against the draft, complaining that the new constitution could allow Muslim clerics to intervene in the making of legislation, while leaving other religions and women with few protections.
Replace the word “Muslim” with “Christian” and I am sure Huckabee, Fischer et al would love it.
Secular Egyptians are not happy about this.
Immediately after the announcement, a small group of protesters set tyres on fire and blocked traffic near the central Tahrir square, the hub of the uprising against Mubarak.
Here in the states, the story shouldn’t surprise us. We have seen that when turnout is high, theocrats can’t win, even if they throw the kitchen sink at the election. When it is low, however, their chances are much better, because their voters are the easiest one to organize through the network of religious groups and houses of worship.
Will we remember this lesson next time?
