(Photo by: Ahmed Al-Malky)
Egypt’s judges will treat the amendments proposed by the Al-Wasat Party to the Shura Council regarding the judiciary law as if they did not exist and will demand that the upper house of parliament cease discussing such amendments.
The judges, over 6,000 of whom gathered at the Judges’ Club general assembly meeting at the High Court building, also demanded President Mohamed Morsi issue a public apology on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood for staging protests calling for the “cleansing” of the judiciary on Friday.
The general assembly also approved a motion demanding the upholding of a Cairo Court of Appeals verdict reversing the appointment of Prosecutor General Tala’at Abdallah and reinstating his predecessor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud, rejecting the idea of appointing a new prosecutor and insisting on Mahmoud’s return.
Egypt’s Judges’ Club will also invite members of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) to witness the “attack on the judiciary” by the regime. Representatives of the IAJ sent the general assembly a message apologising for not being able to attend the meeting and promising to visit soon.
Judges’ Club President Ahmed Al-Zind said a delegation of judges would also visit the ambassadors of the five countries with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, in addition to those from Holland and Italy.
The club will also file a lawsuit with the Administrative Judiciary Court calling for the Shura Council to be prevented from discussing or passing any amendments to the judiciary law.
Judges also called on Morsi to accept former Minister of Justice Ahmed Mekki’s resignation or to remove him from office if he rescinds his resignation. They also called for the appointment of a neutral and independent replacement.
The judges will start an open-ended sit-in at the High Court buildings if their demands are unmet.
