CAIRO: Legal specialists were outraged at a Ministry of Justice decision to bypass their role in agricultural land misdemeanor's cases in Sharqeya. The ministry's decision allows judges to rule in such cases without consulting legal specialists. The ministry asked specialists in Sharqeya to return all the case files related to land abuse including land erosion and illegal building on agricultural land. Specialists fear that other governorates will follow in the same footsteps over the next couple of months, eliminating their role altogether. They claim the decision is a reaction to their sit-in, which started on July 6. The ministry said it has created a map of urban and agricultural land and so does not need to consult specialists on these cases. "The ministry continues to provoke us with conflicting and unconstitutional decisions, Mohamed Tahoon, spokesperson for protesting specialists, told Daily News Egypt. "Although the [map] was finalized five years ago, the ministry issued this new [decision] now to send us a direct message, he added. Tahoon said that the new decision will take a toll on plaintiffs and not specialists. Under the new decision, those who wish to build on agricultural land will have to be issued a certificate from the local authority unit. However, Tahoon said that these certificates can be easily obtained through illegal means. "Previously, a ruling to bulldoze illegal buildings required an expert's opinion but now it will take place directly, Tahoon explained, "this may result in land abusers getting away with their crime and will keep innocent people who couldn't get this certificate in jail. The Ministry of Justice's legal specialists are staging a sit-in demanding the replacement of law 96/1952 and cancellation of periodic book number eight that allows them to examine case files in courtrooms only. They are also calling for better pay and work conditions. Protesters sent a memo to the presidential office on Thursday refuting the ministry's allegations of internal conflicts between the protestors. Specialists were told that a resolution is expected within the next few days. While some news reports suggested that the specialists' protests are over, Tahoon said this information is unfounded. "We will continue our sit-in until our demands are met, he said.
