Islamist bias in constitution panel

Egypt’s Islamists make up a sizable majority of a 100-member panel tasked with drafting a new constitution, according to a list of names published yesterday by the country’s official news agency.

Of the 50 MPs selected by parliament’s two chambers to sit on the panel, 37 are Islamists. The other 50, also selected by MPs, are public figures who include enough Islamists to give them a comfortable overall majority in the panel.

The new constitution will determine the balance of power between Egypt’s previously all-powerful president and parliament, and define the country’s identity, including the role of religion and minority rights.