Supporters claim that the article is an improvement on the old article allowing military trials, because it clearly defines the cases in which the trials are allowed, which include “direct attacks on military premises, camps, properties and factories; attacks on military zones and border areas, and attacks on military vehicles or personnel while they are carrying out their duties,” as well as “crimes related to military documents, secrets or funds.”
Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, one of Tamarod’s representatives in the committee, explained his support for the article by saying, “This is the best we can achieve in this critical time in Egypt. One day things will settle down and we will have a real democracy and a two thirds majority in parliament can amend the article.” Meanwhile, Mahmoud Badr, another Tamarod representative, abstained from voting.
The article has been condemned by various human rights groups and political movements, including the April 6 Youth Movement, whose coordinator said that they would campaign against the constitution if the article remained in it. Ra’fat Fouda, a law professor and constitutional expert, commented, “The armed forces wants to extend its dominance over civilians through being allowed to try them in military courts… This falls under the characteristics of military regimes rather than those of civilian, democratic regimes.”
In addition, the workers union criticized the Committee’s decision to abolish a quota for laborers and farmers in Parliament, calling for the President to intervene to prevent the change.
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POMED