An Egyptian court has issued a verdict criminalising sit-ins and strikes at public offices and punishing participants, a judicial source said. The High Administrative Court (HAC) said on Tuesday that public employees taking part in sit-ins or striking will be forced into retirement for disrupting the "public office from serving the interests of citizens." "A sit-in is not considered to be a protest, meeting or assembly, but rather a strike as some of the employees interrupt carrying out their duties without giving up their jobs," the court said in a statement spelling out the decision. The court said strikes are a "criminal crime" and that "obedience to superiors is the backbone of any administrative system". The HAC has imposed compulsory retirement on three employees at a provincial public department in the northern governorate of Menoufiya and postponed the promotion of 14 others for "striking and disrupting the office from serving citizens," the statement added. Egypt's constitution has enshrined "the right to strike peacefully" but said it shall be regulated by law. But the court has said the decision is based on an Islamic Sharia law rule that "warding off harm takes priority over procuring benefits", adding the Egypt is bound by a United Nations treaty to respect the right to strike on condition that it does not contravene Sharia principles. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/128876.aspx