Female members of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) protested yesterday against an earlier decision by the State Council's general assembly to ban the appointment of female judges. NDP secretaries for women's affairs issued a statement on behalf of Aisha Abdel Hadi, manpower minister and general secretary for women's affairs, in which they called on the State Council to reconsider its decision. "The bright history of Egyptian women, who managed to secure their constitutional right to be appointed judges in constitutional courts in 2003, testifies to the fact that they have performed their duties in the best way possible, in both economic and family courts," the statement read. Approximately 150 protesters raised banners in front of the NDP's Cairo headquarters reading, "No to discrimination against Women" and "We aren't begging--we're defending a legitimate right upheld by the constitution and the law." Karima el-Nabarawi, demonstrator and member of the Cairo Municipal Council, said it was the first time for her to participate in a protest since she joined the NDP more than 30 years ago. "It's hard to ignore such a backward decision, especially since women are playing a leading role in all fields of national work," she said. El-Nabarwi went on to urge First Lady Suzanne Mubarak to intervene on their behalf. Mahabbat Abu Omeira, the NDP's secretary for women's affairs in Cairo, said the protest had been called by Abdel Hadi herself since the State Council decision violated principles outlined by the constitution. In Helwan, approximately 300 women staged a protest in front of the Helwan Secondary School. Fayza Hasabo, the NDP's women's affairs secretary in Helwan, said the constitution granted women the right to be appointed to public office on the basis of citizenship and equal opportunity. In Qalubiya, around 400 women raised banners before the ruling party's headquarters to express their displeasure with perceived discrimination against female judges. Amal Abdel Salam, the NDP's women's affairs secretary in Shubra el-Kheima, said the State Council decision was invalid, discriminatory and in violation of Article 40 of the constitution. In the Red Sea Province, meanwhile, a number of female members of the NDP Women's Affairs Secretariat organized a demonstration before party headquarters in Hurghada, where they raised banners supporting women's right to be appointed judges. In Kafr el-Sheikh, some 500 female NDP members organized similar protests. And in Daqahliya, a number of women organized a protest in coordination with female members of the Women's Affairs Secretariat. Aida el-Sakhawi, the NDP's women's affairs secretary in Daqahliya, issued a statement condemning the decision, saying " Islamic Law doesn't deprive women of such a right." In Ismailia, around 1000 female members of the Women's Affairs Secretariat protested by raising banners calling for the government to support the appointment of female judges. In Gharbiya, meanwhile, female NDP members issued a statement condemning the State Council's ban on the appointment of female judges. Translated form the Arabic Edition.
