Poll: Most Egyptians want Quran as source of laws and to end the peace agreement with Israel

[Principe Alessandro]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42754523...deastn_africa/

CAIRO — 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.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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.
Its results gauge the mood in Egypt at a time when the country's future is wide open after an end to 29 years of rule by Mubarak — a period defined for many by political suppression, corruption and wide socio-economic disparities.
Mubarak's departure in the face of a popular, 18-day uprising will now give Egyptians unprecedented freedom to choose their future government as well as give new opportunities to political and social forces that have long been kept under wraps.
Islamic groups long suppressed under Mubarak are now free to operate publicly and plan to contest the September vote, including some advocating a militant interpretation of Islam's teachings and the creation of a state run by Islamic law.
In a result that doesn't bode well for the country's lingering sectarian issues, the poll showed that only 36 percent of those questioned believe it is "very important" for Christians and other minorities to freely practice their religions, suggesting the influence of these militant groups, who have incited hatred of the country's 10 percent Christian minority.
Post-Mubarak Egypt also suffers from a security vacuum that has led to a dramatic surge in crime. Economic problems are also deepening and the country has had to borrow from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to balance its books since the political upheavals of the past three months have disrupted productivity, scared away tourists and hit exports.

The poll results also showed that more than half of all Egyptians would like to see the 1979 peace agreement with Israel annulled, highlighting the deep unpopularity of the treaty, which is central to U.S. policy in the region and was scrupulously adhered to by Mubarak.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

More than anything else, however, the youth-led pro-democracy movement, which reworked the political environment, dramatically improved people's attitudes. The polls show a major rise in optimism and changing of national priorities.
In 2007, Egyptian were evenly split over which was more important, a strong leader or democracy, but in the recent poll, 64 percent rated democracy higher.
Of those whose names have been put forward as possible candidates for the presidential elections late this year, former Arab League head Amr Moussa was the most popular, with 89 percent giving him a very or somewhat favorable rating.
Former presidential candidate Ayman Nour trailed with a 70 percent rating while Nobel Prize Laureate and reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei only had 57 percent rating.
The United States, Egypt's strongest foreign backer since the mid-1970s, continued to garner low approval ratings, with only 20 percent of Egyptians seeing it in a positive light, up from 17 percent in 2010.

I like the new Arab democracy, it is confirming what those racists bigoted have always said.

[Sir Pignans]

Democracy at it's finest. It depends whether they entrench minority rights into said Islamic reforms (EDIT: Assuming they do bring in reforms, it was only 50% who wanted it according to the article). If they do that, fair enough.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

Ending the peace agreement with Israel would spell disaster for Israel, to a certain level, but to Egypt especially. Yes, it's their right to do so as a democratic country now, but that doesn't change the fact that it would be a retarded choice.

[Sir Pignans]

They could get more money for there gas... no, they could get MUCH more money for there gas. And by ending it, they probably mean negotiate a new one, the Egyptians probably think the said agreement is to biased in favour of Israel.

For the record, has anyone got the terms of the treaty? The name would probably suffice.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

They could get more money for there gas... no, they could get MUCH more money for there gas.

By heightening gas prices, not by ending the peace with Israel.

And by ending it, they probably mean negotiate a new one, the Egyptians probably think the said agreement is to biased in favour of Israel.

So why don't they change the old one? Peace agreements are flexible. There's no need for a 'rebooting' in order to update to a better 'patch'. The poll said nothing about ending the peace agreement in order to make a new one.

For the record, has anyone got the terms of the treaty? The name would probably suffice.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Pr...Peace%20Treaty

[Sir Pignans]

By heightening gas prices, not by ending the peace with Israel.

Yes, but that's part of the reason the Egyptians want the treaty annulled probably, they seem themselves as being unfairly treated by the Israelis.

So why don't they change the old one? Peace agreements are flexible. There's no need for a 'rebooting' in order to update to a better 'patch'. The poll said nothing about ending the peace agreement in order to make a new one.

Hence why I do not like polls, they don't tell you the options they gave, they might not have given that option. The poll also said nothing about going to war with Israel, so obviously they don't want war. They probably just want to make a strong diplomatic gesture.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Pr...Peace%20Treaty

Cheers.

[magpie]

It would be a bit ironic if all these freedom movements turned most of the middle east into Tehran style governments.

[Simon Cashmere]

It would be a bit ironic if all these freedom movements turned most of the middle east into Tehran style governments.

Only an Islamophobic bigot neonazi hater would ever think that could happen.

[nemgod]

The military would not allow it. Even if they have a democratic government there is no way the army will allow an end to the peace with israel as it would jeopardize all the nice US made equipment it gets. It is a worry that the majority want this but i doubt it will go through.

[Sir Pignans]

The military would not allow it. Even if they have a democratic government there is no way the army will allow an end to the peace with israel as it would jeopardize all the nice US made equipment it gets. It is a worry that the majority want this but i doubt it will go through.

It's called a democracy, and it's called the Muslim brotherhood. (37% support them according to said poll)

The military wouldn't have a choice.

[charles the hammer]

It's called a democracy, and it's called the Muslim brotherhood. (37% support them according to said poll)

The military wouldn't have a choice.

Thats a little naive dont you think? The fact they have a chance towards a democracy is because the military allows it. Piss them off, especially with no real concrete foundation for a seperate political power, and bye bye democracy.

[Sir Pignans]

Thats a little naive dont you think? The fact they have a chance towards a democracy is because the military allows it. Piss them off, especially with no real concrete foundation for a seperate political power, and bye bye democracy.

No. The military won't overthrow a democratically elected goverment. And if it DOES try, it will still lose said military equipment from America courtesy of the sanctions that will be put on it for firing on the people of Egypt. It would be a lose-lose situation.

[charles the hammer]

No. The military won't overthrow a democratically elected goverment. And if it DOES try, it will still lose said military equipment from America courtesy of the sanctions that will be put on it for firing on the people of Egypt. It would be a lose-lose situation.

True, but to be honest they dont really need it, as libya shows a population poorly equipment wont do well against regulars, even if they are mercs. Not to mention the west is not coming to their rescue.

[Adhamh Ashashi]

I believe that is what democracy is about, making your own choice. No matter how retarded it may be.

Also, I would just like to point out that now that things have been put into perspective I much rather prefer israel as a country to the likes of Asad and Geddaffi ruling the country. There is a slight part of me that wants israel to give Asad a bloody nose in Daara.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

I believe that is what democracy is about, making your own choice. No matter how retarded it may be.

Democracy isn't about making retarded choices, it's about the ability to do so. If I can't criticise a tyrant for putting his people and country at risk, I can criticise the people themselves for acting foolishly. This is all hypothetical, of course, because anything less significant than election polls can't be trusted with woollen scissors.

[Babur]

I believe that is what democracy is about, making your own choice. No matter how retarded it may be.

This

[PointOfViewGun]

Wow! An article couldn't possibly be twisted more than what the OP does.

Let's see:

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.

In 2007, Egyptian were evenly split over which was more important, a strong leader or democracy, but in the recent poll, 64 percent rated democracy higher.

Should I put them in bold so that Principe Alessandro can read?

From the original source:

Religiosity Egyptians hold diverse views about religion. About six-in-ten (62%) think laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran. However, only 31% of Egyptian Muslims say they sympathize with Islamic fundamentalists, while nearly the same number (30%) say they sympathize with those who disagree with the fundamentalists, and 26% have mixed views on this question. Those who disagree with fundamentalists are almost evenly divided on whether the treaty with Israel should be annulled, while others favor ending the pact by a goodly margin.

[Basil II the B.S]

Wow! An article couldn't possibly be twisted more than what the OP does.

If anything is twisted and confused is the concept of ''religious'' moderation for Egyptian Muslims.

''Overall, the results of the poll paint a picture of Egyptians as a people who prefer religious moderation over extremism ''

''About six-in-ten (62%) think laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran.''

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Sounds like the classic lie of ''we are moderate Muslims'', when looking at facts, they are definitely not.

[Sir Pignans]

If anything is twisted and confused is the concept of ''religious'' moderation for Egyptian Muslims.

''Overall, the results of the poll paint a picture of Egyptians as a people who prefer religious moderation over extremism ''

''About six-in-ten (62%) think laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran.''

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

From the artcile.

Only a minority, however, sympathize with fundamentalist religious parties, according to the results.

They don't support fundamentalist islamic parties.

Wait, if Egypt declares war on Israel, wouldn't half the Western World declare war on Egypt?

No.

[PointOfViewGun]

If anything is twisted and confused is the concept of ''religious'' moderation for Egyptian Muslims.

''Overall, the results of the poll paint a picture of Egyptians as a people who prefer religious moderation over extremism ''

''About six-in-ten (62%) think laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran.''

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Sounds like the classic lie of ''we are moderate Muslims'', when looking at facts, they are definitely not.

Following the teachings of Quran doesn't neccessarily mean following Quran or Hadiths to the letter. It's same as Christians in US wanting to get their laws based on Bible.