Cairo: Christians on a committee rewriting Egypt`s constitution have threatened to quit the panel over disputes on portions pertaining to Islamic law in the country.
Egypt`s ultraconservative al-Nour Party has pushed adding a portion defining Islamic, or Shariah, law. Critics warn doing so could allow for stricter interpretations of what Shariah is.
Safwat El-Bayadi, a representative of Christians on the panel, said today they might withdraw to "voice our opinion."
The Islamist version has yet to come up for a vote, but the Christians fear Islamists might push the issue.
Amending the constitution is the first step in a roadmap adopted by military-backed interim authorities to restart democracy in Egypt.
A public referendum on the rewritten constitution is expected to take place a month after they finish a draft.
