Egypt: Contemporary Affairs

Egypt’s 2011 revolution brought a dramatic end to Hosni Mubarak’s rule (1981-2011), and its consequences for the relationship between religion and politics remain difficult to predict. The massive popular revolt was inspired largely by young activists with few known links to prominent religious associations. The Muslim Brotherhood, while actively supporting the movement, emphasized that it did not command the uprising. However, the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups won a large majority of parliamentary seats in legislative elections, prompting women and minority groups to complain about a lack of parliamentary presence. A 2011 referendum called for the creation of a representative assembly to draft a new constitution. However the creation of this assembly has proven contentious and critics have accused the Islamist-led legislature of attempting to dominate the process. Representatives of the Coptic Church and al-Azhar Mosque boycotted the assembly in early 2012, and in April 2012 an Egyptian court suspended the assembly, raising doubts about the fate of Egypt’s new constitution. Despite hopes that interreligious cooperation during the revolution would improve relations between Copts and Muslims, deadly sectarian violence erupted in early 2011. In October 2011 government forces clashed with protesting Copts, killing 27 people. March 2012 saw the death of the Coptic Church’s leader, Pope Shenouda III, raising further concerns among Copts anxious about their place in Egypt’s transitioning society. In June 2012, Egypt elected Mohamed Morsi, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, to the presidency.