CAIRO: The Cairo appeals prosecution office on Monday listened to the testimony of the director of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary, Nasser Amin, who is accused of defaming the judiciary. Yehia El-Dakroury, chairman of the Judges' Club, had accused Amin of defamation through press releases in which the latter criticized the State Council's refusal to appoint female judges to judicial positions in the Council. Amin told Daily News Egypt that he confirmed in his testimony to the appeals prosecutor that the press releases were reported on inaccurately. He added that the newspaper which published these statements had even published an apology, retracting their initial reports and printing the correct statements. Amin said: "I stressed in the investigation that I hold all respect and appreciation for Judges and the Egyptian Judicial system. And the fact that I disagree with the State Council judges about refusing to appoint women … is merely a difference of opinion." Amin mentioned that defending women's rights by designating judicial posts to them is an essential part of defending the independence of the judicial system as a whole, because depriving women from these posts is a form of discrimination. "I sent a letter in the name of the Center I represent to the chairman of the Judges Club immediately after the statements were published and before filing a complaint against me, apologizing for the statements and explaining that they were inaccurately reported and that I appreciate the State Council judges specifically, and all Egyptian judges in general." The Executive Director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Gamal Eid, who attended the Amin's questioning, announced that his Network and other rights organizations are trying to reconcile Amin and El-Dakroury. Eid told Daily News Egypt "we are attempting to contact El-Dakroury through other judicial figures, to bridge the gap in their views and explain the case in order to reach an amicable reconciliation. “What happened was just a misunderstanding caused by inaccurate press reports," he said.
