By Farah Yousry
CAIRO: Media coverage of court cases is what President Hosni Mubarak believes to endanger the credibility and image of the Egyptian judiciary system the most.
Mubarak explained, during his speech in the Judicial Supreme Council yesterday in celebration of the Judiciary Day, that the sometimes-sentimental way media covers court cases stirs controversy and perplexes the public opinion, something that affects people’s perception of the court rulings.
“I agree that some journalists don’t practice ethical reporting…they do not attribute their sources or fact-check,” Aya Batrawy, journalism professor at the American University in Cairo, commented on the president’s statement, “however, the media is [mostly] not the reason behind the distrust of the judiciary system.”
Batrawy explained that the public is aware of how the judiciary’s rulings are not absolute and that in many instances they are overridden and neglected by the executive branch’s decisions.
“This is what endangers the credibility of the judiciary system,” Batrawy added.
Mubarak, however, stressed that the government ensure that no branch would interfere in the realm of the Supreme Court, saying that the judiciary system is independent and is never superseded.
Activists, on the other hand, question why university campuses remain under state security despite the court ruling that ordered its restitution with civil security, saying the court’s ruling was overlooked.
The celebration comes eight months after the judges stood in silence outside the High Court in Cairo to press their demands for full independence. This was after two Egyptian judges were prosecuted for accusing pro-government colleagues of manipulating election results in 2005.
Mubarak expressed his reverence to the judiciary’s independence and highlighted the fact that the Egyptian judiciary system has always been a totem of Egypt’s stability and peace.
He stressed that the judges are one of Egypt’s aids in facing radical ideology and terrorist actions in light of the recent church bombing and sectarian clashes.
Mubarak applauded the Egyptian judiciary system’s consistency and ability to avoid politicization and to take sound, objective decisions as per the constitution.
“We are delighted to have President Mubarak give a speech in Egypt’s Judicial Supreme Council today,” attorney Serry Seyam, said.
