ICC Note:

“Islamist lawmakers handpicked a 100-member panel that began meeting this week to write a new constitution, which is widely expected to enshrine Islamic law. Even so, Islamist leaders say they want Egypt to remain a secular state. But many secular Egyptians [including Christians] are not convinced,” National Public Radio reports.

By Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

4/2/2012 Egypt (NPR) – The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups in Egypt are flexing their growing political muscle. They control the legislative agenda in parliament, and in recent weeks introduced controversial proposals to curb social freedoms and legal rights.

Islamist lawmakers also handpicked a 100-member panel that began meeting this week to write a new constitution, which is widely expected to enshrine Islamic law.

Even so, Islamist leaders say they want Egypt to remain a secular state. But many secular Egyptians are not convinced.

Salwa Gerges is one of many Egyptians at an outdoor clothing market in Cairo nervous about the Islamist politicians’ plans.

The 46-year-old Coptic Christian housewife says she has a hard time believing the politicians embrace secularism and diversity. She points to one Islamist lawmaker who recently proposed adopting punishments prescribed by religious law, such as cutting off limbs.

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