There is little doubt that the new Egyptian government will be based in sharia law, and Islam the enshrined religion. With a majority of Egyptians wanting a Qur'an-based administration, and our President applying pressure to let the people decide what they want, we will ultimately have to deal with a government which is far from a friend. Already there is stirring that the treaty between Egypt and Israel be annulled and that will change the balance of power in the region toward Islam and away from Israel. A bad omen for real democracy in the Middle East.
From AP News April 26 by Hamza Hendawi
Egyptian protesters chant slogans and hold pictures of Egypt's past president, Hosni Mubarak, during a pro-Mubarak protest in front of the National TV building in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, April 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
CAIRO (AP) - A majority of Egyptians believe laws in their country should observe the teachings of Islam's holy book, the Quran, according to the results of an opinion poll by a U.S.-based research center.
The results also show that Egyptians, who have shifted toward religious conservatism over the past 40 or so years, are open to the inclusion of religious parties in future governments. Only a minority, however, sympathize with fundamentalist religious parties, according to the results.
Overall, the results of the poll paint a picture of Egyptians as a people who prefer religious moderation over extremism and prize democratic values even if they come at the risk of some political instability.
The poll results were released late Monday and come five months ahead of legislative elections, the first since the February ouster of longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.
Islamic parties are expected to make a significant showing in the crucial vote, with 50 percent of people saying it was "very important" for religious parties to be part of a future government and as much 37 percent have a "very favorable" view of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest and best organized Islamic group.
Another 62 percent of Egyptians believe laws in their country should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran, though 27 percent thought it was enough that the laws reflect Islam's general values and principles.
The poll, based on interviews with 1,000 Egyptians, was conducted by the Pew Research Center between March 24 and April 7. Its margin of error was plus or minus 4 percent.
Read it all
From AP News April 26 by Hamza Hendawi
Poll: Most Egyptians want Quran as source of laws
Egyptian protesters chant slogans and hold pictures of Egypt's past president, Hosni Mubarak, during a pro-Mubarak protest in front of the National TV building in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, April 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
CAIRO (AP) - A majority of Egyptians believe laws in their country should observe the teachings of Islam's holy book, the Quran, according to the results of an opinion poll by a U.S.-based research center.
The results also show that Egyptians, who have shifted toward religious conservatism over the past 40 or so years, are open to the inclusion of religious parties in future governments. Only a minority, however, sympathize with fundamentalist religious parties, according to the results.
Overall, the results of the poll paint a picture of Egyptians as a people who prefer religious moderation over extremism and prize democratic values even if they come at the risk of some political instability.
The poll results were released late Monday and come five months ahead of legislative elections, the first since the February ouster of longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.
Islamic parties are expected to make a significant showing in the crucial vote, with 50 percent of people saying it was "very important" for religious parties to be part of a future government and as much 37 percent have a "very favorable" view of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest and best organized Islamic group.
Another 62 percent of Egyptians believe laws in their country should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran, though 27 percent thought it was enough that the laws reflect Islam's general values and principles.
The poll, based on interviews with 1,000 Egyptians, was conducted by the Pew Research Center between March 24 and April 7. Its margin of error was plus or minus 4 percent.
Read it all
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