Egyptian judges may be punished for speaking on election process
Egypt, Politics, 11/28/2005

The higher judicial council of the Egyptian government asked the Egyptian attorney general Maher Abdul Wahid to open immediate investigation into judges who are talking in the mass media about violations that took place in the legislative elections, and accused them of "practicing politics" and thereby violating the law.

In a statement, the higher judicial council expressed regret that few judges, "less than ten" had talked to the mass media about the elections, and these judges described the election process as having involved forgery. The higher judicial council accused them of being in a flagrant violations of the law that regulate judicial authority which bans judges from politics or interfere in it, even in expressing their views, and this is to ensure Judges neutrality."

The statement added that the judges giving their view on the election operation opens the door before those whom the statement described as "brokers" to trade in their view through false allegations that they act on behalf of their colleagues. A matter which distort the image of judges.

The statement did not specify the names of the judges which the higher council for judges demanded to investigate, confining to saying that they are those who talk to satellite TV stations and the mass media.

Judges have been asked and given authority to monitor the election process, and as such, it is not clear why these judges should be prevented from talking about any violations in this process. Also, it is not clear if the Judicial Higher Council is referring to judges who are speaking now on past elections, when they have spoken at the appropriate time when the violation took place, or if some of these judges fear or feared at the time doing so, or if the judges are speaking about the current parliamentary elections.

Previous Stories:
  Preperation for Egypt elections run-offs complete   (11/24/2005)
  Progress for Muslim Brothers in Alexandria parliamentary elections   (11/21/2005)
  Egypt: Parliamentary elections will be held in full transparency and fairness   (9/22/2005)
  Egyptian opposition talk of election irregularities   (9/8/2005)
  Supervising elections conflict in Egypt   (9/7/2005)
  Egypt judges to monitor the presidential elections   (9/3/2005)

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