Give Egypt some credit

[Valin]

USA Today:

The recent vote demonstrates that the country is moving towards democracy.

Kirsten Powers

January 22, 2014

 

Egypt made history over the weekend. For the first time, this ancient society has a constitution that protects the rights of women, bans religious discrimination and provides the framework for a government with more secular values. This stands in stark contrast to Egypt's previous constitutions.

 

The country's elections commission announced Saturday that the groundbreaking constitution was approved by 98.1% of voters. Presidential and parliamentary elections are slated to be held in the coming months. What should be a moment of celebration by Egypt's friends has instead invited withering criticism and calls to abandon this important U.S. ally at a critical moment in their history.

 

The Washington Post editorial board recently blasted Egypt's "bogus democracy" for the constitution's alleged failure to sufficiently diminish the power of the military. They then demanded the U.S. cut off all aid. Secretary of State John Kerry insinuated that the vote in favor of the constitution involved fraud, though none has been proven. His complaint ignores the Muslim Brotherhood's boycott of the referendum, which might explain the lack of opposition in the results as well as the lower-than-expected turnout. Thirty-nine percent of eligible voters came out; slightly more than the 33% who voted in the referendum for President Mohammed Morsi's 2012 constitution.

 

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