The Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies is quite busy gathering one million signatures to request a change in the Egyptian constitution. The request will be submitted to the People’s Assembly, seeking to provide an opportunity for those who wish to run for the presidency. The Ibn Khaldun Center, also known as Ibn Sahyoun [son of Zion] as some have termed it and its founder, Sa cd al-Dīn Ibrāhīm, is said to receive substantial funds from the United States and protection from the ‘enemies of Egypt and the Arab world’. Many find Ibrāhīm the last person to have the right to request such a change.
Ibrāhīm is considered suspicious due to his dual nationality and his sworn allegiance to the United States, a necessary condition to receive the American citizenship. His controversial past does not help his case either, especially after receiving support from various American and Zionist entities or persons, such as journalist Thomas Freedman and Sharon himself.
Ibrāhīm’s article in al-Hayāt newspaper was perceived as condemning Islam and defending U.S. atrocities in the Abu Ghurayb prison. Such quotes as: "Americans condemn what al-Zarqāwī and his group committed, but are not surprised… for he is like Bin Lādin and other Islamists who can do anything in the name of religion," are met with much opposition. Other statements such as accusing Arab rulers themselves, in light of the Abu Ghurayb atrocities, of practicing torture in their prisons, do not do much for Ibrāhīm’s case either.
Ambassador Salāh al-Dīn Shacrāwī called on Egyptians to boycott Ibrāhīm in all possible ways. He called on shop vendors, and every possible Egyptian whose service Ibrāhīm may need to survive in Egypt, to send a clear message to Ibrāhīm that there are real consequences for his actions from the people he claims to serve.
Ibrāhīm is not alone in his campaign on amending the constitution. There is a strong demand from various Egyptian political entities as well. The aim is to allow multi-candidate presidential elections and to limit each president to two terms. If the campaign to amend the constitution is successful, there are five candidates interested in running for the presidency: Dr. Sa cd al-Dīn Ibrāhīm; prosecutor and member of the People’s Assembly, Muhammad Farīd Hasanīn; physician and writer, Nawāl al-Sacdāwī lawyer of appeals, al-Husaynī al-Shahrī and Hamdī Salāh ‘Abd al-‘Azīm.
The ruling party, Hizb al-Watanī [The National Party], has not yet interfered in the campaign initiated by al-Sa‘dāwī, Ibrāhīm and Hasanīn. Mubārak and his party, however, have rejected the notion of amending the constitution. The party has already decided to re-appoint Mubārak for a fifth term.
Lawyer Nabīh al-Wahsh has sent a warning to the Head of the People’s Assembly, Fathī Surour, and to its members, to decline any request submitted by the campaigners. He reasoned that Ibrāhīm has a dual nationality and leans towards western ideologies, and al-Sa‘dāwī has a history of defaming and attacking Islam and its practices, thus claiming them unfit for consideration. al-Sa‘dāwī considered running for the presidency to challenge the existing political stagnation that Egypt is experiencing. She believes in challenging the status quo in order to take a proactive stance on the current political situation.
