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Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has ruled just this morning that one third of its Parliament would be dissolved because it was elected fraudulently. The move complicates the upcoming Presidential run-off election which is set to take place this weekend. Additionally, just days ago, the Justice Ministry empowered Egypt’s military police and intelligence officers to arrest civilians. That power will remain in place until a new constitution has been drafted. Currently the only two remaining candidates in the Presidential race are Mohammad Morsi representing the Muslim Brotherhood, and Ahmed Shafik, former Egyptian Prime Minister under Hosni Mubarak. Shafik’s candidacy was confirmed today by a court ruling allowing him to run.

More than a year after Mubarak was toppled he remains imprisoned. Reports surfaced earlier this week that doctors had to revive the former dictator twice with a defibrillator and suffers from high blood pressure and deep depression. However, his health is now stable, even as he serves a life sentence handed down after a highly publicized trial.

Meanwhile Egyptian women have been struggling to speak up for their rights. At a demonstration last Friday in Tahrir Square thousands of women gathered to protest the sexual harassment of female protesters, and were themselves sexually assaulted. Even though male supporters were present alongside the women, a mob of men attacked the women and attempted to tear off their clothing. Women are also demanding equal representation in the new Parliament and group called the Egyptian Women’s Coalition has offered up the names of 50 women they would like to see as part of the committee that will draw up a new constitution.

GUEST: Seif Da’na, associate professor of sociology and international studies at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside specializing in the Mideast and North Africa