The Associated Press reports that yesterday Egypt's Parliament approved a controversial set of constitutional amendments, including one that bans the formation of any political party based on religion. This provision is designed to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood from gaining power. (See prior posting.) Under Art. 189 of Egypt's Constitution, the amendments are required to be approved by a vote of the people in order to go into effect. Reuters today reports that the referendum on the amendments is expected to take place quickly-- probably next Monday, March 26-- presumably in order to prevent opponents from rallying voters to oppose the changes.
UPDATE: Lebanon's Daily Star reported on March 22 that both Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and the opposition Kefaya movement will boycott the March 26 referendum on Egypt's proposed constitutonal amendments in order to deny legitimacy to them.
