Draft bill would target Brotherhood workers in Egypt
An Egyptian lawmaker is drafting contentious legislation that would allow civil servants to be fired from their jobs for no other reason than their affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood.
CAIRO — Mohamed Abu Hamed, the deputy chairman of the Egyptian parliament's Social Solidarity Committee, is stirring controversy in human rights circles, having revealed that he is preparing a draft law aimed at dismissing members of the Muslim Brotherhood from their public posts. Many people fear the draft law, which they say violates the Egyptian Constitution, might eventually be expanded to be used against regime opponents.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all consider the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. Forces of now-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled the elected government of Brotherhood leader President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
Egypt’s Constitution reads as follows: “Public posts are a right for citizens on the basis of merit, with no favoritism or mediation. Public posts are an assignment in service of the people. The state ensures the rights and protection of civil servants, and that they shall perform their duties in service of the interests of the people. They may not be dismissed outside of disciplinary action except in those situations set out by law.”
In a late-July phone interview aired on Al-Mihwar TV, Abu Hamed announced that he has nearly completed draft legislation “to dismiss the Muslim Brotherhood members from their [public] posts,” indicating that the draft will be submitted to parliament in the third session, which begins in October.
