Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei, which aired on Al-Nahar TV on November 29, 2012.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.
Mohamed ElBaradei: "A couple of days ago, [President Mursi] issued the constitutional declaration, which reminds me of the verse in the Koran, where Pharaoh says: 'I am your God, the most high.'
[…]
"When I look at the articles in the draft constitution that were made public, regarding freedom of belief, freedom of expression, women’s rights, children’s rights, the authorities of the president, and economic and social rights – it is a wretched constitution. I am sad to have to see this. It emerges at a time when Egypt is completely divided. The revolution did not take place 20 months ago so we could see something like this. The revolution was waged for the sake of bread, freedom, and social justice. We have not seen even a part of these so far."
[…]
Interviewer: "But there is going to be a popular referendum…"
Mohamed ElBaradei: "Whatever, Hosni Mubarak held popular referendums as well. There were many such referendums in the USSR. Al-Qadhafi held great popular referendums."
Interviewer: "These referendums yield a result of 99%..."
Mohamed ElBaradei: "And sometimes 99.9%... This is very common around here. Perhaps, for the sake of appearance after the revolution, they will make it 60%.
"Eventually, he, this constitution, and this referendum will be written off.
"As I’ve said, this is nothing but folklore. It is a waste of our time and a waste of the revolution. He is trying to hijack the revolution, and the response will be harsh.
[...]
"[Islamists in the Constituent Assembly] talk about the Holocaust…"
Interviewer: "But the late Dr. El-Messiri said that based on his research, the Holocaust did not happen."
Mohamed ElBaradei: "Perhaps he was meticulous in his research, but what I know is what I have seen in the concentration camps. There were crematoria there. I have seen pictures of children who were slaughtered and placed in these crematoria."
[...]
