Thousands of security personnel have been deployed throughout Egypt to ensure a key referendum goes smoothly on Monday.
Egyptian are voting on whether or not they accept a package of controversial amendments to the constitution, but many say the proposed amendments are a setback for civil rights.
The referendum was preceded by mass protests. Egyptian opposition groups and human rights organizations say the changes will limit freedoms and keep the president’s ruling National Democratic Party in power.
The bill makes it impossible for the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition group in Egypt, to seek presidency in a future race. The draft law could outlaw political activity found to be based on religious preference.
The Muslim Brotherhood is an outlawed organization, but tolerated to some extent.
The group is calling on the Egyptians to boycott the referendum.
The United States joined the criticism last week when United States Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice criticized the referendum. Ahead of her visit to Egypt over the weekend, Rice said she was “really concerned” about Monday’s scheduled referendum and implied it was not as democratic as Egyptians wanted.
Egyptian officials were angered by her remarks, which they said constituted illegitimate interference in Egypt’s internal affairs.
The Egyptian parliament approved the amendments last week. The final approval of the amendments depends on the outcome of the referendum.
If approved, the amendments will also significantly weaken the role of judges in monitoring the electoral process. Judges who were outspoken about the ruling party’s attempts to tamper with results and commit election fraud in the 2005 parliamentary elections, faced prosecution.
The government is defending the amendments, saying they are part of political reforms.