Egypt new law would force out 3,000 judges
Date 2013/4/27 17:02:45 | Topic: Egypt
| The Egyptian parliament is working on a draft retirement law that, if approved, would force more than 3,000 judges out of work.
According to the draft, which was proposed by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, the retirement age for all judges would be dropped from 70 to 60.
About 10,000 judges and other legal figures from across Egypt gathered in the capital Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the draft law that would also ban the courts from reviewing or overturning presidential decrees.
The judges accused President Mohamed Morsi of trying to control the courts, warning that they would not recognize the draft law.
They also promised to refer it to international bodies for what they called violations against the judiciary.
Tensions have been running high between president Morsi and the judiciary, since he took office last June.
Judges and opponents accuse Morsi and his Freedom and Justice Party of monopolizing power. Muslim Brotherhood's supporters also say most judges are appointees under ousted ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Egyptian Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky resigned on April 20 following protests in the capital.
On April 19, opponents of the Egyptian president held a protest rally outside the country's Supreme Court, calling on the president to overhaul the judiciary, which they accused of supporting Mubarak.
Following the protest, Morsi announced that he would reshuffle his cabinet.
Protesters see the judiciary as the main obstacle in achieving the goals of the revolution that toppled Mubarak in 2011.
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