The hope was that a new constitution would help calm the protests that have roiled Cairo since last week, when President Mohamed Morsy issued a declaration granting himself near-dictatorial, albeit supposedly temporary, powers. But it appears the draft document -- approved by an Islamist-dominated assembly in the wee hours of Friday morning only after walkouts from liberal and Christian members -- has only served to stoke the flames.
Thousands gathered in Tahrir Square the day the document was passed to protest. They say the charter was passed hastily, ignored input from non-Islamist voices, and could lead to restrictions on speech, women's rights, and other freedoms. Reuters called the scenes "reminiscent of the popular uprising that unseated predecessor Hosni Mubarak." As Evan Hill writes for , the Muslim Brotherhood isn't backing down without a fight. The group has promised it will hold its own rallies on Saturday to show support for the government. Here's a look at the scene in Cairo.
Above, former presidential candidate Khaled Ali (second from the right) and political activist Bothyna Kamel (second from the left) take part in a march heading to the square.
While crowds swelled in Tahrir Friday to protest the draft charter, it was the sixth day of protests in the square; protesters have vowed to stay until the decree granting Morsy new powers has been repealed. While Morsy has claimed his actions are a necessary temporary measure for the transition to a full-fledged democracy, many are not buying it. "The president wants to create a new dictatorship," said protestor Mohamed Sayyed Ahmed.
Above, a view of Tahrir Square.
An Egyptian man holds a copy of the Quran and a cross as thousands of protesters gathered. Those gathered chanted, "The people want to bring down the regime," a rallying cry made popular during the protests against Mubarak.
Leftist demonstrators hold posters of late secular dictator Gamal Abdel Nasser.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
The fury many feel over the constitution and Morsy's recent power grab may be heightened by frustrations over the state of Egypt's economy. Tourism and foreign investment have dropped off amid the turmoil since the 2011 revolution, while unemployment has continued to climb, reaching over 12 percent. Above, an Egyptian man shouts slogans at protesters.
Egyptian protesters held a sign reading in Arabic "In the constitution, the military council has no rule over our bodies" as demonstrators stage a sit-in.
A protester stands in a giant Egyptian flag in Tahrir Square.
The BBC estimated that tens of thousands of people were in Tahrir Square on Friday. In the city of Alexandria, there were marches both against the constitution and in support of Morsy, which lead to clashes at night. Above, protesters march toward Tahrir Square.
The Muslim Brotherhood is confident that rallies in support of Morsy and the constitution on Saturday will draw even larger crowds. Above, a protester with his face painted stands in the square.
Opposition leader and head of the liberal Wafd Party El Sayyid al-Badawi was among those in the square on Friday. Above, Badawi waves to his supporters upon his arrival in the square.
Egyptian's liberal and secular opposition has struggled to compete with the Islamist political machine. But Badawi thanked Morsy last week for his maneuvers, claiming they have "united the National Front for the first time since the January 25 Revolution," reports Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper. Above, Badawi gestures in Tahrir Square.
Morsy says his exceptional powers will end as soon as a constitution is approved; he could call for a referendum on the draft by mid-December. However, given the reaction to the proposed draft, that may no longer be enough calm the deeply divided Egyptian streets: "This is a constitution for the Muslim Brotherhood only," one protester said.
