CAIRO — Sinai novelist and activist Mosaad Abu Fajr was jailed for nearly three years under the rule of former president Hosni Mubarak for his campaign “Wedna Ne`ish” (We Want To Live), which protested issues faced in the Sinai and among the Bedouin community. Today, he is one of 50 people on a committee amending the 2012 constitution, drafted by the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists.

This week, Fajr stormed out of a committee session when it appeared clear that a majority was voting in favor of an amended article that allows civilians to be tried in military court — a controversial amendment to Article 174 added since the July 3 military-backed ouster of former president Mohammed Morsi.

“There is a power that thinks that they can rule the country with AKs and military rule, which is impossible to achieve in reality and is not right and will not succeed,” he said. “In reality, we need people who believe in democracy, not force. That’s why this article is scary.”

Egypt's military appears to be retaining judicial and political powers in the new draft of the constitution, confirming fears that its takeover in July will not fully give way to civilian rule. After a heated debate in a sub-committee about military trials for civilians, text representing decades of military dictatorship remains.