As Egyptians prepare to vote on whether to accept a new constitution, cartoons capture the mass hysteria and mild criticism that is permissible to share.
Egypt will vote next week in a constitutional referendum, the country's second attempt to adopt a constitution since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in 2011 (the first attempt, under now ousted president Mohamed Morsi, didn't end well). The drafting process has been messy — and further complicated by the military-backed government's crackdown on those who oppose it.
The constitution is by all indicators expected to pass. According to a recent poll, 74% of Egyptians surveyed will vote yes in the referendum (though 59% of respondents also said they had not yet read the document.) These numbers are likely reflective of a concerted campaign by the government, military, and other political and business elites to push the public towards voting yes. Supporters of the deposed Islamist president have responded in a similar vein with a vote no campaign, though they have fewer resources.
Cartooning and satire in Egypt has a storied tradition, often serving as a mask for political criticism. Here's a look at cartoons from Egypt's newspapers that capture some of the hysteria, fatigue, and fear (that is permissible to print) surrounding Egypt's constitutional referendum.
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