CAIRO: Chancellor Ahmed Al-Zend, head of the Judges' Club, called for banning protests inside or in front of courthouses to avoid assaults and attacks on judges and prosecutors. “Only citizens with direct interest should be allowed into the courtroom. Nowadays any passerby can enter a court,” Al-Zend told Daily News Egypt. Over the past two months, several attacks and violations were reported inside courtrooms in several governorates. In Mahalla, more than 200 lawyers attacked the court security and judges, broke the docks and freed a fellow lawyer, sentenced to 10 years for forgery. In Shubra Al Khema court complex, several members of defendants' families broke into the courtroom and attempted to free their relatives. After failing to do so, attackers went down to the court's parking area and tried to smash the judges' cars. In Ismailia several men tried to attack the judges after sentencing their relatives to prison. It is reported that police forces did not interfere, an incident that prompted the judges to file an official complaint. In Sinai, more than 100 armed citizens surrounded the Tour courtroom in remonstrance for sentencing their relative, Youssef Hussein, to seven years in prison for drug possession. Protesters blocked the road leading to the courthouse putting the judges, prosecutors and court employees under siege. Al-Zend's call came after he held an urgent extraordinary general meeting for the Judges' Club on May 6 to find ways to avoid violations and attacks in courtrooms. During the meeting, judges highlighted the importance of securing courts to provide judges with the suitable environment to perform their jobs. Attendees also agreed on the importance of modifying the law in order to achieve full independence of the judiciary system. Judges demanded the armed forces and the Cabinet form a fact finding committee to investigate the several attacks on courts in the different governorates. Opinions varied on El-Zend's announcement, with some judges welcoming the call to ban protests, while others condemning it saying it is reminiscent of the old regime's policies. “The head of the Judges' Club does not have the authority to organize courts but should ask the relevant authority, the Higher Judiciary Council, to issue such a decree,” Ahmed Seif, lawyer and former director of the the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, said. “However, I support that demand. How can a judge issue a fair verdict if he is afraid of the protesters at the door? If, for example, the judge doesn't have sufficient evidence to convict a rogue of the old regime, he will be reluctant to set him free; thus, affecting the judges' impartiality. The judge should not be subject to people's pressure even if they had good intensions,” he explained. Seif explained that for judges to be able to give impartial verdicts they must work in a suitable and safe environment. “The Supreme Council for Judges should find a solution to that problem or judges will go on strike, whether it's Al-Zend's suggestion or another alternative,” Seif added. “The increase in attacks on judges and violence in courts heightened judges' feeling of insecurity to the extent that some judges asked to suspend trials while others submitted their resignation,” Chancellor Mahmoud Al Sherif, chancellor at the Appeals Court and secretary general of the Judges' Club told DNE. In the extraordinary meeting, the judges decided to form a committee from the Judges Club, the club presidents in the different provinces and 10 members of the General Assembly to meet with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Ministers of Justice and Interior to voice their demands. Mohamed Rahka, a physician and a human rights activist, criticized Al-Zend's calls. “It's good that Al-Zend demanded this ban in order for the public to see his real face. He is part of the old regime and immediate action should be taken if this decision is applied,” he told DNE. “His jurisdiction does not include court surroundings. Why not ban protests in Tahrir Square as well?” Rakha added. Government reaction Prime Minister Essam Sharaf apologized to all judges on air for the attacks on courthouses and asserted that the government will immediately start working on providing a secure working environment. He also confirmed that there will be direct 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. During his meeting with a committee from the Judges' Club, Minister of Interior Mansour El-Essawy promised that the ministry would provide the maximum security to courts within its limited resources and staff. Surveillance cameras and metal detectors will be installed in courts, he said. El-Essawy asked the SCAF to assign 50,000 soldiers to assist the Ministry of Interior in securing courthouses. “After Sharaf's and El-Essawy's promises, many judges felt safer and resumed their duties,” Al Sherif said. Urgent extraordinary general meeting During the urgent extraordinary general meeting of the Judges' Club, the attending judges and prosecutors claimed that the Egyptian judiciary system is under attack. These claims came after Chancellor Mahmoud Al-Khodeiry, former head of Alexandria's Judges' Club, announced that there are around 300 corrupt judges in the judicial system. “There might be some mistakes but there is definitely no corruption,” said Chancellor Ezzat Khamis, vice head of the Appeals Court. “Verbal attacks on the judicial system are even graver than physical attacks,” Khamis added. Khamis demanded the assembly take immediate action against those who attack the system verbally. “This is the first time I disagree with Khamis but answering to these imposters will give them importance,” Al-Zend said. “However, making the people lose faith in judges is a dangerous conspiracy,” he added. Judge Mohamed Yousry asked what the SCAF and Minster of Defense are waiting for to interfere. “I am on leave until I can work in a secure environment,” Yousry said. Prosecutor Mohamed Al-Sehemy demanded the assembly submit an official complaint against Al-Khodeiry. “If his claims are true then those 300 judges should be fired but if they are false he should be penalized,” Al-Sehemy said. “If there is corruption in the judicial system then there is corruption in the military system,” said prosecutor Yasser Okasha, after which Al-Zend apologized on behalf of the assembly to the military council. At the end of the meeting, Al-Zend thanked the Ministers of Interior and Justice for their efforts but said this is still not enough. “We need more to be done in order for judges to work without pressure,” Al-Zend told DNE.
