Press Room - Egypt
 

Egypt

Cairo on 5 April, 2006

In Response to ACIJLP's Request:

International Commission of Jurists Starts Taking Action Concering the Independence of the Judiciary in Egypt

Within the framework of the follow up on part of international organization concerned with the conditions of justice and the independence of the Judiciary, and in response to a request made by the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) started its measures concerning the independence of the Judiciary in eygpt, particularly the investigation with deputies of the head of Egypt's Court of Cassation.

The first measure was represented in sending a letter from the ICJ to His Excellency President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Republic of Egypt and His Excellency Mahmoud Abul-Leil, Egypt's Justice Minister.

The two letters expressed the ICJ's concern about the conditions of independence of the Judiciary in Egypt, as well as the Commission's concerns about the investigation with judges who are deputies to the head of Egypt's Court of Cassation.

ACIJLP, member of the ICJ, appealed to the ICJ and the UN special Rapporteur on the independence of the Judiciary after having appealed to the Egyptian government to seek to guarantee the independence of the Judiciary with the relevant authorities and entities in Egypt and immediately ending the investigation with the following deputies of the head of the Court of Cassation:

  1. Counselor Ahmed Makki, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  2. Counselor Mahmoud Makki, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  3. Counselor Mahmoud al-Khodeiri, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  4. Counselor Hesham al-Bastawissi, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  5. Counselor Assem Abdel-Jabbar, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  6. Counselor Yehia Galal, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation,

  7. Counselor Nagy Derbala, deputy to the head of the Court of Cassation

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) works towards giving priority to the application of international laws that strengthen human rights' principles. ICJ is characterized in particular by its independence, objectivitiy and resorting to the law to protect and propagate human rights through supporting the principle of the rule of law based on equality and neutrality.

ICJ provides legal experts on both the international and national level to ensure that developing international laws is based on commitment to the principles of human rights and that international criteria is applied on national levels.

ICJ was established in Berlin in 1952 and its membership include 60 prominent jurists who represent various legal systems worldwide. ICJ's secretariat, based in Geneva, bears the responsibility of propagating and achieving the Commission's objectives. Towards this end, the secretariat is linked to a broad network of national branches and affiliate organizations in all continents.

ICJ received many awards in appreciation of its efforts to spread and protect human rights, including the first European Human Rights Award from the European Council, a peace award, Erasmus award and the UN Human Rights award.

 

  

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