CAIRO, Egypt (BP) -- Egyptian voters have approved a new constitution, leaving Christians a bit more hopeful, though it does not secure basic rights for religious minorities.

One Egyptian Christian leader said the difference in attitudes he observed as he waited in line to vote was "a great tendency to celebrate a new Egypt that returned us back from the iron grip of radical Muslims," Mission Network News reported.

The country's new constitution was approved by 98.1 percent of the 38.6 percent of eligible voters who turned out for a two-day referendum in mid-January as the first step of a so-called road map to democracy. Next are presidential and parliamentary elections later this year.

Christians are expected to fare slightly better under the new constitution compared to the one drafted during the one-year presidency of Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was removed from office last July.

Specifically, the blasphemy statute that prohibited the "insult or abuse of all religious messengers and prophets," which was used against Christians, has been removed, according to Morning Star News, which reports on the persecuted church worldwide.

(Author not mentioned, Baptist News, Jan. 23, 2014) Read Original