(AFP File Photo)
The Salafi Al-Nour Party called for postponing the Shura Council discussion of the judiciary draft law, after the council announced it will discuss the bill on 25 May.
Galal Morra, secretary general of the Al-Nour Party, said his party’s stance comes as an attempt to mend the rift between the government and the judiciary because of the draft law. He added that postponing the draft discussion by Shura Council until the second state-sponsored “Justice Conference” is held would allow for resolving the crisis.
“We should support dialogue between the opposing state institutions rather than taking actions that could lead to an escalation of the already-tense situation,” said Morra.
Heba Yassin, spokesperson for the Al-Tayar Al-Sha’aby (Popular Current), described the Shura’s decision as “a persistent attempt to breach the independence of the judiciary”. Yassin claimed that President Mohamed Morsi and the Shura Council are attempting to control the judiciary as a prelude to the “Ikhwanisation” of Egypt. “Despite holding a meeting with judges and promising them that the draft law should be approved by them, Morsi continues to go back on his promises with the Shura’s decision to discuss the draft.”
Yassin asserted that the Al-Tayar Al-Sha’aby would stand for the independence of the judiciary, adding that they would discuss escalation manifestations with other revolutionary groups, before announcing their response to the Shura Council’s decision.
The Shura Council decided on Tuesday to discuss the judiciary draft law on 25 May. The decision provoked disagreements among council members, where Freedom and Justice Party members called for discussing the draft urgently while Al-Nour Party members called for postponing the discussion. Ultimately, the council decided to plan a discussion about the draft law on 25 May.
