Egyptian president selects woman, Christian as vice presidents

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/28/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Affiliated with Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi says 'role of women in Egyptian society is clear'

Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president has announced he will appoint a woman as one of his vice presidents and a Christian as another, his policy adviser told CNN. Morsi was previously in favor of banning women from the presidency. He apparently changed his tune before the election, that as president he would stand for women's rights.

Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president has announced he will appoint a woman as one of his vice presidents and a Christian as another.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "For the first time in Egyptian history -- not just modern but in all Egyptian history -- a woman will take that position," Deif told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "And it's not just a vice president who will represent a certain agenda and sect, but a vice president who is powerful and empowered and will be taking care of critical advising within the presidential Cabinet."

Morsi had shown a softening of resolve about the role of women in Egyptian government in an interview with CNN weeks before the election. "The role of women in Egyptian society is clear . Women's rights are equal to men. Women have complete rights, just like men. There shouldn't be any kind of distinction between Egyptians except that ... based on the constitution and the law."

A former Muslim Brotherhood leader, Morsi also promised to safeguard the rights of minorities, assuring others that Egypt "definitely" will not be an "Islamic Republic," according to Deif.

Morsi's political opponent for the presidency, Ahmed Shafik has left Egypt for Abu Dhabi as Cairo's administrative court overturned a rule that allowed the military to arrest people without a warrant. He is not fleeing the country, Shafik's attorney says.

Legal petitions accusing Shafik of corruption were submitted in April, but prosecutors have not taken legal action on them, so "there are absolutely no legal cases pending" against him."

Shafik was the final prime minister to serve under President Hosni Mubarak before he was ousted.

His office says he "will establish a new political party upon his return from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where he is on private visits."

In the meantime, Shafik and his two daughters will perform Umrah, an Islamic religious pilgrimage to Mecca.

Moving into his offices Monday, Morsi has begun the work of assembling a new government, one of the powers he maintains after the military junta running the country recently slashed the presidency's reach.

Cairo's administrative court in the meantime rejected a controversial rule that the Ministry of Justice had established before the election.

The rule stated that military personnel and intelligence forces could arrest civilians without a warrant. The right to arrest civilians had previously been reserved for police officers.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Egypt, Mohammed Morsi, election, Muslim Brotherwood, women, Christians

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

Robert Burford
10 months ago
The is hope for this country that it can take a more tolerant approach to different religions and follow the path of countries like Turkey and not follow the path of countries like Saudi Arabia and Syria
Doc G
10 months ago
Well...let's see if his choices don't blow up in his face - figuratively speaking, of course.
Maurice
10 months ago
Thank God for that, perhaps there can now be peace between Christians and Muslims

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