Tag: judges

Egypt judges decry changes to bill

Posted on By 3arabawy

From Al-Jazeera:

The Egyptian Shurah Council has approved in principle amendments to the judicial system law, extending the retirement age for judges from 68 to 70.
The decision on Sunday triggered the Egyptian Judges’ Club to hold an emergency general assembly to protest against the move which is seen as an attempt to keep the ruling party in power.
The judges discussed what steps to take to declare their rejection of the amendments proposed by the ruling National Democratic party.
The club is an elected body which oversees the independence of the judicial system and takes care of the interests of Egyptian judges.
Dozens of judges attended the assembly to protest against the amendments to the law, which include raising the age of retirement, something that means that the five top judges who are controlling the judicial system in Egypt at present and who are loyal to the government, will remain in their posts for two more years.

1st anniversary of Cairo Spring

Posted on By 3arabawy

Around that time a year ago, Kefaya activists occupied Abdel Khaleq Tharwat Street, in solidarity with the Egyptian judges fighting for their independence from Mubarak’s executive authorities. The occupation was smashed by the Central Security Forces troops, which descended on downtown. For weeks to follow, thousands of Muslim Brothers and leftist activists were to stage demonstrations, only to be met with the regime’s iron-fist repression.

Photographer and friend Nasser Nouri, together with an army of professional photographers, were unknown soldiers in this battle, by braving with their cameras in the streets, snapping shots of police brutality, street clashes, exposing the Gestapo-style state–supported by the Western governments–Egyptians are living under today. On several occasions, photographers like Nasser were subject to the police wrath, beatings, kidnappings, and had their cameras smashed.

The photo below, taken by Nasser Nouri, provides a glimpse of what Cairo’s Spring was like:

The Judges' Club under Security Siege

[Cairo’s Judges’ Club under security siege, April 2006. Photo by Nasser Nouri.]

Thanks Nasser and  all the brave photographers who still insist on showing up to cover activist events, despite police intimidation.

Renewed crackdown on bloggers

Posted on By 3arabawy

Judge Abdel Fattah Murad, who is crusading for the closure of 21 blogs and websites, has filed a new lawsuit against Bloggers Alaa Seif, his wife Manal Hassan, and lawyer Gamal Eid, the director of HR-Info. The judge is accusing the three of libel during the last court session, where actually the judge assaulted blogger Rami Siyam who video-recorded him with a mobile phone.

The Giza Prosecutor interrogated the three today, then ordered their transfer to the Dokki Police Station, from where they should be released, pending investigation.