Egyptian demonstrators are back in Tahrir Square, protesting against President Muhammad Mursi’s edict granting himself absolute powers, including immunity from judicial review, as well as the hasty drafting of a theocratic constitution by the Islamist-dominated Constitutional Assembly. These two acts have heightened the conflict between Egyptian Islamists and a broad spectrum of society, including independent judges, liberal and Arab nationalist parties and civic groups, who fear that the Muslim Brotherhood is seeking to control the presidency, legislature and the judiciary in order to create an authoritarian state that has no intention of handing over power in the future. The outcome of this conflict could have far-reaching regional repercussions.