(AFP Photo)
Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud officially submitted his resignation from his post on Tuesday.
Mahmoud returned to his post as prosecutor general through a court order released last Tuesday. He had been removed from his post by former president Mohamed Morsi in a move described as both illegitimate and unconstitutional by many observers.
The reinstated prosecutor general submitted an official memorandum to the Supreme Judicial Council Tuesday morning stating that he will no longer take on the post of prosecutor general, reported the official website of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU).
Mahmoud released a statement regarding his resignation in which he stated that at a time when Egypt faces the “threat of the evil powers’ conspiracies”, all must take one side to defend the values of justice and law.
“We needed to shackle the Muslim Brotherhood’s hands which were intervening in the public prosecution,” Mahmoud’s statement read. “I have promised we will restore the public prosecution free of any [political] inclinations, only true to the nation… and I have met my promise.”
Mahmoud announced on Friday his intention to resign. He expressed discomfort at holding onto his post, saying that it is the prosecutor general’s responsibility to “issue decisions and procedures regarding those who have isolated me from my post”, in reference to Brotherhood figures.
“I want all of the public prosecution’s decisions to be free of any doubt or suspicion,” the statement read. “I don’t want the decisions to be subject to challenge.”
Several political movements meanwhile called on Mahmoud to resign from his post, accusing him of belonging to the former regime of Hosni Mubarak.
Mahmoud was removed from his post through a constitutional declaration issued by Morsi in November 2012 which appointed Talaat Abdallah instead. The declaration, which granted Morsi sweeping powers, was severely criticised and led to nationwide protests against him.
