CAIRO: The State Council Judges’ Club will file an official complaint at the general prosecutor against the head of the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) Abdel Moez Ibrahim to demand his dismissal.
According to Judge Khaled Hassan, the deputy head of the State Council and the secretary general of the State Council Club, this comes in light of statements made by Ibrahim at a press conference last week.
Responding to a question about the 150 judges who refused to supervise the elections, Ibrahim said that these judges have personal agendas and are busy with the state council elections, according to Hassan.
Hassan explained that the judges boycotted the elections in protest at an attack on judges last Thursday in Sharqeya, and because they are demanding that the SEC “consider the seniority of each judge when assigning them to specific polling stations.”
Hassan said that the club will convene in a general assembly on Dec. 27 to decide whether they will take part in the third round of parliamentary elections, should the SEC not commit to meeting a number of demands.
According to Hassan, SEC’s commitment should be announced no later than Dec.20.
“The most important of these conditions is to consider the seniority of judges when assigning them to polling stations and also taking legal measures against the security personnel who attacked the judges,” Hassan told Daily News Egypt.
Hassan was referring to an incident in Sharqeya where a group of judges was attacked by military police Thursday night.
He added that the Club board will call on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to address Ibrahim’s “incompetence” and demand his dismissal and replacement.
Meanwhile, the High Administrative Court in Alexandria ruled Sunday that the SEC is the only body with the authority to rule on lawsuits challenging election results.
According to state news agency MENA, the ruling was announced by Judge Sami Abdel Hamid, deputy head of the State Council, as a number of candidates filed a case against certain parties, namely the Freedom and Justice Party and Al-Nour, for campaigning during the 48 hours before the vote, which is banned.
In previous statements made by Justice Ibarhim, he explained that all violations made by parties are crimes punishable by law. He added that a decision will be taken by the general prosecution following thorough investigations.
SEC could not be reached for comment.
