Turabi’s party distances itself from a coalition for Islamic constitution in Sudan

February 29, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) led by Hassan al-Turabi has officially dissociated itself from a coalition of political parties and religious group working to adopt an Islamic constitution in Sudan after the secession of South Sudan.

The Islamic Constitution Front was officially launched in Khartoum on Tuesday. Hassan Abdel Majed, former leader of the Society of the Muslim Brothers in Sudan, was chosen to lead the front. He and other threatened to depose President Omar Hassan al-Bashir if he fails to elaborate a constitution based on the Islamic law.

The launch meeting was attended by representatives of political forces including Turabi’s deputy Abdallah Hassan Ahmed and figures from the ruling National Congress Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, Salafi group of Ansar Al Sunna, and Sufi brotherhoods.

Kalam Omer Abdel Salam, PCP political secretary, on Wednesday denied the intention of his party to join this front for an Islamic constitution in Sudan.

“The Popular Congress is a party of principles and clear positions,” he said. Stressing that the PCP “can not proceed with the preparation of a constitution to rule the Sudan unilaterally or through an exclusionary coalition.”

The Islamist opponent further said that a constitution can only be elaborated by political forces within the context of constitutional arrangements for a transitional period.

Omer slammed the new alliance and described its ideas and propositions as “totalitarian”. He added that some of the coalition’s members just carry the name of Islam but ignore anything about. He pointed out that an “Islamic constitution cannot be discussed in this way.”

The PCP which calls for an Islamic constitution is accused by the ruling NCP of working with the rebel groups in South Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile to topple the regime.

However, despite a new trend among the Islamist parties in the Islamic world to endorse the secular state, Turabi’s party did not yet voice openly any support to such idea like his friends in Tunisia.

Abdallah Hassan Ahmed, from his side, told reporters that he participated in his personal capacity at the founding meeting of the front. He further said what was debated is a project open for discussion and not binding for the participants.

The deputy secretary general of the opposition party said that those who signed the project did not intend to bless or to support it but meant to open a window for dialogue and deliberation on the new constitution.

He reaffirmed the PCP’s commitment to its political line supporting freedoms and the establishment of a genuine democratic system creating a climate for the adoption of a constitution that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people for religious, cultural and ethnic diversities.

The Umma Party of Sadiq al-Mahdi did not attend the founding meeting of the Islamic Constitution Front with other secular parties like the Sudanese Communist Party.

These parties call for the formation of a new government and a new parliament to elaborate a permanent constitution before holding a general election to elect a president and MPs.

(ST)