The rule of law has been missing in this country for two years now, which is why all things have gradually gone out of order. After having obtained a democratically elected president, it is important to maintain societal order and do so systematically, using all available means; first through the political process, and. when necessary, firm enforcement of the law and taking appropriate disciplinary measures. The problem is that the transitional period persisted even after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) ended its rule and the country witnessed widespread incidents of lawlessness and clashes with authorities. At the beginning, SCAF seemed to overlook many public violations to the rule of law. The military council turned blind to public protests that caused delays and stoppages in delivering some public services like transport, which harmed the national economy specifically the tourism sector. Understandably, SCAF was trying to minimise violent crack downs and reduce the ever-present potential of lost lives between the army and the citizens. So, they remained silent and never questioned any of those strikers about violating the law. The problem is that the period of disrespecting the rule of law continued even after having an elected president, but it was the President and his Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and the Salafists who were breaking the law and still remain unpunished. The first violation came with the Presidential Decree of November 22 that immunised the President's decisions from judicial overview. Then, there was the illegal appointment of a new public prosecutor. Also, MB supporters besieged the Constitutional Court and prevented judges from ruling on two cases that question the constitutionality of the Constituent Assembly and the Shura Council. The President might have succeeded in forcing his will on society by having the controversial constitution endorsed, which protects the rulings of the Shura Council. He even moved the legislative authority to the Shura Council until parliamentary elections are concluded. When the opposition led public protests against such totalitarian procedures, the MB leadership sent some of its members to forcibly end the peaceful strikes that protestors had organised close to Al-Itihadiya Presidential Palace. Other Salafists groups headed to the Egyptian Media Production City to besiege and terrorise media staff of satellite channels that criticised the ruling regime. Seeing all these violations and many others receive no judicial action, encouraged the public follow suit and express their anger in illegal ways. We cannot question the citizens for their assault on the police stations, courts or prisons while the authorities themselves were never questioned for committing the very same acts.
