Since the beginning of its revolution [JURIST backgrounder], Egypt has been plagued by continuing political turmoil, protests, and violence. Earlier this week, the SCC dismissed complaints [JURIST report] against the assembly responsible for drafting the country's new constitution. Specifically, the complaints challenged the method for selecting the assembly's members, which was boycotted [JURIST report] by liberals and Christians as a misrepresentation of all Egyptians. Last month the SCC postponed ruling [JURIST report] on whether the assembly was legitimate. In January UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] voiced concern [JURIST report] over the growing violence and rising death toll stemming from the country's ongoing protests. Also that month Morsi declared a state of emergency in an attempt to quell growing unrest and violent political protests in cities brought on by an Egyptian court ruling handing down 21 death sentences [JURIST reports] for a 2012 soccer riot that resulted in 74 deaths and thousands of injuries.