Protests erupt after new Egypt constitution passed

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By AYA BATRAWY and MAGGIE MICHAEL

CAIRO (AP) - Tens of thousands of protesters took the streets in Egypt denouncing President Mohammed Morsi and a draft constitution that his Islamist allies approved early Friday in a rushed, all-night session without the participation of liberals and Christians.

Anger at Morsi even spilled over into a mosque where the Islamist president joined weekly Friday prayers. In his sermon, the mosque's preacher compared Morsi to Islam's Prophet Muhammad, saying the prophet had enjoyed vast powers as leader, giving a precedent for the same to happen now.

"No to tyranny!" congregants chanted, interrupting the cleric. Morsi took to the podium and told the worshippers that he too objected to the language of the sheik and that one-man rule contradicts Islam.

Crowds of protesters marched from several locations in Cairo, converging in central Tahrir Square for what the opposition plans to be the second massive rally in a week against Morsi. They chanted, "Constitution: Void!" and "The people want to bring down the regime."

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Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121130/DA2SC96G2.html

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Egyptian protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans as they attend a rally in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. Egypt's opposition has called for a major rally Friday in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where some demonstrators have camped out in tents since last week to protest decrees that President Mohammed Morsi issued to grant himself sweeping powers. Hundreds gathered in the plaza for traditional Friday prayers, then broke into chants of "The people want to bring down the regime!" — echoing the refrain of the Arab Spring revolts, but this time against a democratically elected leader. Other cities around Egypt braced for similar protests.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

[sinkingfeeling]

1. My hotel last Monday night was 5 blocks from Tahrir Square. The streets were blocked

when the mini bus picked us up to take us to the airport at midnight. The people of Egypt are very upset with Morsi.

[MADem]

2. He's like an Egyptian Khomeini...and we saw how badly that turned out.

Women, minorities, members of minor religions, ordinarily resident foreigners....bow down, bend over, and kiss your asses goodbye.

You are SUBJUGATED. This jerk you elected is rapidly consolidating power, and he's doing it in very meaningful ways to cut off the path of future opposition strategies.

It's sad that the only hope to shift this guy is the corrupt and monstrous Army--and he's cut off their heads. The third tier leadership is in charge over there, and they're staying out of this mess.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. The "only hope" is Mubarek's army? You gotta be kidding.

I can understand the desire here for a compliant authoritarian regime that will do our bidding, but I don't think too many Egyptians want to go back there.

How authoritarian Morsi will be and how democratic Egypt's political system will be remains to be seen, but he represents the dominant political force in the country.

[MADem]

4. Like the Turks do....when the government goes too nutty (like wanting to reinstitute the wearing of

bedsheets by the female population) ya wake up one morning, and some general is smiling out at you from the tee vee. The general says "We'll only be here for awhile, until you elect someone who isn't insane. In the meantime, sit back and relax, don't make a stink, and don't do anything stupid--and you women? Yes, you're "allowed" to go back to your jobs and live as full citizens of this nation. Leave the scarfs at home."

I don't give a shit about Egypt "doing our bidding." Stop looking at everything through a US lens. This isn't about US. It's about a large percentage of the population that is getting FUCKED. And no, might does not make right--which is what you seem to be suggesting with your "dominant political force" line.

I care about women's rights, minority rights, and an independent--not subjugated to Morsi--judiciary. Egypt had those when the Army was running the joint.

Who else is going to deliver those things? Morsi himself? A "revolution" when the Brethren have the organization and ability to beat the living shit out of any woman/minority who pipes up?

Dream on. He's using the Ayatollah blueprint. Successfully, too. It's a low-down dirty shame.

[rollin74]

5. I hope the people of Egypt are able to overthrow this clown

let's hope that liberals are strong enough to remove him from power. Morsi is revealing himself to be a tyrant more and more with each passing day

I wish luck to the protesters there