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| Africa North |
| 41 judges sacked 'for supporting Brotherhood' |
| 2015-03-16 |
| [ARABNEWS] An Egyptian disciplinary court ordered 41 judges into compulsory retirement on Saturday for supporting the outlawed Moslem Brüderbund, judicial sources said, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on political dissent. The Disciplinary Council headed by Nabil Zaki, a judge, did not immediately release the reason for its decision, but the judicial sources said 31 of the judges were sent into compulsory retirement for signing a statement condemning Mursi's removal. Another 10 were removed from their posts for joining the "Judges for Egypt" group, which supported the Brotherhood even before Mursi's removal, the sources added. Egyptian law prohibits judges from engaging in politics, but critics and human rights ...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedomat the convenience of the state... groups say the judicial disciplinary court has turned a blind eye to judges who openly support the current government. The government says the judiciary is independent and it never intervenes in its work. "The decision is shocking and it is a massacre of the judges," Ahmed El-Khatib, one of the punished judges, told Rooters. He made no comment about whether he supported the Brotherhood. The judges have the right to appeal the decision. Separately, security forces placed in durance vile Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! 63 middle-level Brotherhood leaders who face charges of attacking police headquarters and inciting violence, Egypt's Interior Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Another 13 Brotherhood supporters were arrested on suspicion of possessing arms and ammunition, it added. |
| Posted by:Fred |