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Opinion

Morsi does a Mubarak

Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi’s decree on Thursday night, assuming sweeping powers, has created trumoil in a country that still has vivid memories of the  three-decade long abuse of power by former president Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was ousted from power after the Egyptian Revolution of 2011-12. Mubarak resigned as president on 11 February, 2011, transferring power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. In May-June 2012, Egypt voted in its first post-Mubarak presidential election, choosing Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist Brotherhood candidate over Ahmed Shafik, the former prime minister under Mubarak’s rule. In choosing Morsi, Egyptians had hoped for change.

Mubarak ruled as a quasi-military leader when he became President. For the entire period that he was in office, he kept the country under emergency law, giving the state sweeping powers of arrest and curbing basic freedoms. But the 2011 rebellian in the country showed that oppression can never endure. The movement, which largely focused on corruption, has still not ended. Many activists continue to fight for freedom and the movement has stirred up quite a storm. Morsi should keep this in mind. After he was sworn in on 30 June 2012, the Egyptian president  expressed favour for a constitution that protects civil rights, yet is enshrined in Islamic law. But his 22 November declaration purporting to protect the work of the constituent assembly drafting the new constitution from judicial interference, which in effect immunises his actions from any legal challenge has been received with suspicion and protest. Egypt’s top court on Wednesday announced it would go on strike until Morsi rescinds his decree. The presiden’t move has launched the country into fresh uncertainty and turmoil.  Across the world there seems to be a tightening up of freedoms. This is not right. The democratic movements have led to freedom for humanity, the candle of which must never be extinguished. These movements have given to the people various political rights and freedoms. These rights and freedoms cannot be taken away. The hard won freedom of the various peoples of the world can never be at stake.
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