EHA launches national telemedicine platform with support from Egyptian doctors abroad    Madbouly reviews strategy to localize pharmaceutical industry, ensure drug supply    Egypt's real estate market faces resale slowdown amid payment pressures    Al-Mashat tells S&P that Egypt working to reduce external debt, empower private sector    Cairo's real estate market shows resilient growth as economy stabilizes: JLL    Egypt inks $121m oil, gas exploration deals with Apache, Dragon Oil, Prenco    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Emergency summit in Doha as Gaza toll rises, Israel targets Qatar    Egypt renews call for Middle East free of nuclear weapons، ahead of IAEA conference    Egypt's EDA, Korean pharma firms explore investment opportunities    Egypt's FM heads to Doha for talks on Israel escalation    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Lawyers protest increase in lawsuit fees
Yasmine Saleh Published in Daily News Egypt on 24 - 02 - 2009

CAIRO: Lawyers nationwide suspended their criminal court cases on Tuesday, in protest at the increase in lawsuit fees.
The Lawyers' Syndicate called for the one-day strike after the People's Assembly (PA) approved a new draft law raising the fees for filing lawsuits 10-fold.
The draft law was proposed by the government in January.
Some lawyers argue that the new amendments will make "the legal system only affordable for rich citizens, lawyer Amir Salem told Daily News Egypt.
According to Salem, this change is "unconstitutional and poses a huge financial burden on most Egyptians "who live under the poverty line.
Salem also argued that imposing this increase comes at an inopportune time with the global financial crisis taking a toll on world markets.
"Of all commodities and services, the government chose to increase the lawsuit fees, which should have been free of charge in the first place, he said, "a just, affordable legal system is every citizen's right, and that right should be offered by the government for free.
On Sunday, lawyers protested against the law in front of the Cabinet building in Downtown Cairo and chanted slogans against the law, the minister of justice as well as Ahmed Ezz, an influential NDP MP recognized as a main advocate of the law.
In an official statement released this week, the Lawyers' Syndicate vowed to continue fighting the law.
Fathi Ragab, deputy chairman of the Shoura Council, previously told Daily News Egypt that "according to Article 23, those who cannot afford the [lawsuit] fees will be exempt, provided that the court verifies their claims.
Based on the new law, fees will range from LE 10-50 an increase from the old law's LE 1-5. The old law was issued in 1944 and had not undergone any amendments since.
The court's share of the demanded financial compensation will remain as is at 1.5-5 percent. Many had protested a potential increase in this percentage, arguing it would deter people from demanding justice.
The Ministry of Finance will be the main beneficiary of the increase, followed by the Ministry of Justice.

Clic here to read the story from its source.