CAIRO: President of the Judges Club Ahmed el-Zand declared that he would not allow any demonstrations or marches in the courts or in the nearby surroundings in order to stop the “excesses of thugs and criminals,” who he said were able in the previous period to enter the courts and attack the judiciary and public prosecution. “It is time to prevent anyone from entering the house of justice except those who have a real interest to be present in the court,” el-Zend stated. He confirmed the “appreciation” of Egypt's judges to the Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who previously said that in the coming period the country would witness the coordination and cooperation between the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Ministers of Justice and Interior and the Judges Club in order to take all necessary measures to secure the courts. On the other hand, Mohammed Abd el-Aziz el-Gendy, Minister of Justice, and Mansour al-Essawi, Interior Minister, will discuss later with the members of the committee formed by the General Assembly of the Judges Club ways to re-organize the security system to fully secure the headquarters of the courts and prosecutors so that they can perform their mission. All the proposals and recommendations that they would reach would be provided to the Prime Minister. This follows the decision of the emergency General Assembly of the Judges Club, headed by el-Zand Friday, which ended with the judges to give the state authorities a deadline of seven days to reconsider securing courts and the headquarters of the Public Prosecutions in all parts of the country to provide an environment suitable for the consideration of all cases and trials away from the excesses, brutality and attacks the judges and courts suffered in the recent period. Otherwise, the General Assembly has threatened to convene an extraordinary general assembly again next Friday for a decision to suspend all work of the courts and prosecution until security is restored to the courts. The Assembly also decided to form a committee of the Bureau of the Judges Club, the club presidents in the provinces and 10 judges of the General Assembly members to meet the Military Council and the Ministerial Cabinet and the Ministers of Justice and Interior for the immediate implementation of that demand. The Assembly discussed, during its meeting, the means of abuse on the judiciary witnessed by several Egyptian courts from some outlaws in a manner that made the judiciary and public prosecution unsafe and unable to perform efficiently. It also reviewed articles that dealt with some judges that attempted to interfere in the course of justice. The emergency Assembly also expressed its grave concern and strong disapproval of the continuous demonstrations in front of and inside the Supreme Court carried out by those who hamper the work flow and insult judges, as described in el-Wasat newspaper. The Assembly warned against the intervention in the affairs of justice, saying that it will never be a forum for passions and special interests. It called upon the SCAF and the Cabinet to form a fact-finding committee to discuss the organized and systematic attacks on a number of courts and prosecutors in various provinces. The Assembly called on the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice to discuss the draft amendment of the Judicial Authority Law, which was prepared by the General Assembly, soon in preparation for issuing it as a confirmation of the principle of the judiciary independence and the rule of law. It also demanded amending the text of Article 133 of the Penal Code by replacing aggravated imprisonment to imprisonment or a fine set forth in the crime's punishment, and establishing a specialized judicial police authority. BM
