CAIRO — Egyptians voted in favor of a disputed constitution in a referendum that has pitted Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi against secularists, official results show.
The charter, which was rushed through by a drafting panel after the withdrawal of nearly a quarter of its members, was passed with a 63.8 percent “yes” vote in the referendum that ended Dec. 22, the country’s electoral commission said in a press conference in Cairo yesterday. Turnout for the vote was 32.9 percent, it said, adding that it had reviewed all complaints of voting irregularities.
Opposition groups, including secularists, minority Christians and youth activists, have alleged numerous ballot violations and pointed to the low turnout as evidence the constitution is not representative of the nation’s diversity.
The opposition argues the charter further enshrines Islamic law while curbing freedoms, claims the Islamists have denied.