CAIRO, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Egypt's Constitutional Assembly agreed on language about Sharia law and decided parliamentary elections would be held soon after a new constitution is approved.
Lawmakers said Thursday the language states the "principles" of Sharia law are the main source of legislation, al-Masry al-Youm reported.
The assembly also agreed that Christians and Jews may follow their own religious practices and choose their spiritual leaders freely.
"Principles" has been interpreted as meaning the basics of the Sharia jurisprudence, the report said.
Liberals and Muslim Brotherhood members disagreed with Salafi lawmakers' demands that full Sharia law, not just its principles, be the basis for legislation, al-Masry al-Youm said.
The assembly's Political System Committee agreed to develop language that would direct that parliamentary elections be conducted within 60 days after the new constitution is adopted.
In September, the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling that dissolved the lower parliamentary chamber, determining portions of the election law were unconstitutional because they allowed party candidates to compete for independent seats.
