Egypt

Cairo on 30 March, 2006

Human Rights Organizations

Call for the Immediate and Urgent End to Investigations

 with Court of Cassation Judges

And Present Features of the Strategy of Solidarity

with Egypt's Judges' Demands

Within the framework of discussions and coordination related to solidarity with the demands of Egypt's judges concerning their independence, human rights organizations held a coordination meeting on Sunday, 26 March, 2006 to discuss and consider means of solidarity with Egypt's judges and their demands. The following organizations participated in the meeting:

1. Arab Organization for Criminal Reform

2. Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

3. Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners

4. Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights

5. Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession

The above-mentioned organizations consider their meeting continuous until the agreed-upon strategy is prepared. Each of the strategy's steps will be announced upon implementation.

The participating organizations affirmed that the event represented in the extraordinary general assembly of Egypt's Judges' Club which was held on Friday, 17 March, 2006, the discussions that took place during this general assembly meeting and the resulting decisions and recommendations carry clear evidence that there are judges in Egypt who are keen on their independence.

The participating organizations also affirmed the right of the judges to express their opinion concerning the laws organizing and governing their profession in accordance with international criteria related to the independence of the judiciary.

The mentioned organizations calls upon the Egyptian government to conduct a serious dialogue with the Judges' Club concerning the Judiciary Authority Law with the aim of issuing a law that enjoys the approval of the Judges' Club. The organizations also called upon Egypt's judges to continue their path and persevere in demanding the rights they exercise in the interest of Egypt's citizens.

The organizations pointed out that the Judiciary Authority draft law submitted by Egypt's judges achieves the minimum level of independence in accordance with international criteria related to the independence of judges. The organizations add that any modifications introduced to this law should be presented to the judges themselves to give their opinion.

Participating organizations expressed their concern about the implications of the decision issued by the Supreme Judiciary Council referring seven of the deputies to the head of the Court of Cassation to investigation.

The organizations also express their concern about the implications of the prosecutor general's decision prohibiting members of the public prosecution from participating in the recently held, above-mentioned general assembly.

The organizations wish to express their complete solidarity with Egypt's judges' demands, particularly the need to present any modifications to the Judiciary Authority draft law to the Judges' Club for consideration and comment, as well as the need to take their comments into consideration.

Expressing their complete solidarity with the demands of Egypt's judges concerning their independence, the organizations call for the immediate and urgent end to the investigations with the judges referred to investigation.

The organizations also call upon Egypt's government and People's Assembly to respond to the demands of the judges and guarantee their independence. The organizations demand that Egypt's Judiciary Authority Law fulfills international independence of the Judiciary criteria according to the draft law submitted by the judges.

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