Society 09:18 03/12/2012

Egypt's high court suspends sessions after protesters block judges' way

Egypt's high court is indefinitely suspending all its sessions, after supporters of President Mohamed Morsy surrounded the building and blocked judges from entering, CNN reported.

Calling Sunday a "dismal, black day" in the history of the country's judiciary, the court said in a statement that its judges will not return to work until they can do their jobs "without any psychological or physical pressures."

"The judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court have no choice but to declare to the great Egyptian people that they are unable to perform their sacred mission in light of the current charged situation," the statement said, according to the state-run MENA news agency.

It was the latest salvo in a growing crisis that pits Morsy and his conservative Islamist allies against liberal, secular opponents, raising fears among observers that the political strife could translate to violence in the streets.

A protester who was injured in anti-Morsy demonstrations last week died of his wounds Sunday, Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohamed Sultan said. And at least one person died and 66 were injured Saturday in clashes at protests, both for and against the president, according to MENA.

Sunday's protest by Morsy's supporters forced judges to postpone ruling on the legitimacy of the body drawing up the nation's constitution, and on a separate but related decision about whether to dissolve the Shura Council, Egypt's upper house of parliament.

The scheduled court session was widely viewed as a challenge to Morsy, who set off a political maelstrom on November 22 when he declared his past and future decisions were immune from judicial oversight.

Morsy said the powers are necessary and temporary until a new constitution is adopted.

But that promise has done little to quiet the opposition, which says Morsy's actions are reminiscent of those taken by ousted President Hosni Mubarak. Anger at Morsy's move led to protesters reoccupying Tahrir Square, the scene of the Arab Spring uprising that saw Mubarak ousted in 2011.

The anger only grew when the Islamist-dominated Constitutional Assembly pushed through a draft despite the objections of the secular opposition, including some members who walked out in protest.

But Morsy and his political allies may have reason to be worried, given steps taken by the the military council that ruled Egypt after Mubarak's ouster. The council has previously dissolved parliament's lower house, which was populated with a number of Islamist lawmakers loyal to Morsy, because it said the elections were unconstitutional. When Morsy said he would call back the lower house, the high court upheld the dissolution.

On Saturday, Morsy said a constitutional referendum will be held on December 15. Following the announcement, tens of thousands of protesters -- for and against Morsy -- took to the streets.

Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood and Morsy supporters spent Saturday night outside the court, which had indicated it would review the proposed constitution.

Trucks brought food and blankets to crowds outside, said Sultan, the Health Ministry spokesman.

Protesters had surrounded the building by Sunday morning. They blocked entrances, "with some of them on top of the walls while chanting slogans that denounce the judiciary and inciting people against the judges," the court said in its statement Sunday.

It was unclear Sunday whether the high court judges would rule on the constitution. But beyond the court's chambers, opinions over the document were split.

About 1,000 judges from around the country agreed Sunday that they would not supervise a national referendum on the constitution, members of the Egyptian Judges Club said. The club's unanimous decision means court officials who would normally sort out any irregularities in voting will abstain from the process in protest.

But there were also signs of support for the measure.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:06
Armenian cellist announces creation of Artsakh Chamber Orchestra
World-renowned Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan announced the establishment of an orchestra comprising Armenian musicians forcibly displaced...
16:36
Two motions tabled in NSW Parliament slam Azerbaijan, call for pro-Armenian measures
On 19 September 2023, one year since Azerbaijan’s 24-hour military assault and ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, NSW Parliamentarians Tim James...
16:05
Russian diplomat rejects Pashinyan's CSTO claims
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claims that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) poses threats to Armenia’s security...
15:35
Hrayr Tovmasyan found guilty, freed from criminal liability
A first instance court in Yerevan on Friday found former Constitutional Court chair Hrayr Tovmasyan guilty on two counts but released him from...
15:10
Armenian meteorologist says many sunny days are ahead
It is too early to say goodbye to summer, says Gagik Surenyan, Deputy Director of the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center at Armenia's...
14:34
Ruben Vardanyan responds to Pashinyan from Baku prison
Ruben Vardanyan, a Russian-Armenian philanthropist and Artsakh’s former state minister who is illegally detained in Azerbaijan, has...
14:06
Armenian stone cross installed at Pasadena school
In a significant move to preserve Armenian culture, Hovsepian School in Pasadena has installed a Khachkar, or Armenian stone cross, on its...
13:36
Struggle 'unequivocal choice' in Armenia, protest leader says
Struggle in Armenian is an “unequivocal choice”, says Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of a protest movement aimed at...
13:15
Hundreds evacuated from northern Italy amid floods
At least a thousand people were evacuated as flooding hit northern Italian regions. The extreme weather has continued to affect other Central...
13:03
Armenian politician Artashes Geghamyan dies at 74
Armenian politician Artashes Geghamyan has passed away at the age of 74. He established the National Unity party in 1997 and ran for...
12:36
Azerbaijani offensive against Artsakh had a specially developed tactic, report says
The Azerbaijani armed attacks against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on 19-20 September 2023 had a specially developed tactic, according to a...
12:14
Opposition MP accuses Armenian security chief of promoting Azeri narratives
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan accused Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan of promoting Azerbaijani narratives...
11:36
Rain, storms persist in Armenia
Rain and thunderstorms combined with strong winds are expected to persist in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the coming...
11:15
Mel Gibson scouting locations in Europe for 'The Passion of the Christ' sequel
Mel Gibson is in Europe scouting locations for a sequel to his 2004 biblical blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ” — which...
11:00
Chess Olympiad: Armenian women's team claims another victory
The Armenian women's national team scored one more confident victory at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad. In the 8th round on Thursday, the...
17:13
Opposition MP: Armenian leadership trying to legitimize Artsakh genocide
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan accused Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government of attempting to...
16:35
ARF Hai Tad: Karabakh conflict remains on international political agenda
The ARF Bureau Hai Tad Central Council issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of...
16:05
Complaint filed to ICC prosecutor one year after Azeri attack on Artsakh
A year after Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh and forced the displacement of almost its entire population of over 100,000, a complaint for...
15:36
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan marks first anniversary of Azeri attack on Artsakh
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan expressed support for Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, including Artsakh's military and political...
15:05
CoE urges Georgia to review entry ban on Arsen Kharatyan
The Council of Europe's Safety of Journalists Platform urges Georgia to review the entry bans imposed on journalists Andrei Mialeshka and...
14:30
Rep. Schiff seeks seizure of Azerbaijani assets to fund Artsakh Revenue Recovery
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) – the ANCA endorsed candidate for California’s U.S. Senate seat – has introduced a bi-partisan...
14:06
Armenian health minister reports decline in West Nile virus cases
Armenia saw a decline in the outbreak of West Nile fever in the past week, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said on Thursday....
13:36
Artsakh people have undeniable right to self-determination and return: statement
The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) issued a statement on the first...
13:15
Artsakh leader deplores Armenian government officials' statements
Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan, other Artsakh governmnet officials and lawmakers paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the Yerablur Pantheon...
12:35
Rain, storms hit most parts of Armenia
Rain and thunderstorms combined with strong winds are expected in most parts of Armenia on Thursday and over the coming days. Hail and...
12:01
Political prisoner Narek Malyan walks free after one year behind bars
Political prisoner Narek Malyan walked free on Thursday after serving a one-year prison sentence. Malyan’s family, friends and...
11:36
Armenia marks first anniversary of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh
The Armenian Foreign Ministry on Thursday issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of the forced displacement...
11:15
Victims of Azerbaijani war crimes to testify in Washington D.C. for first time
For the first time ever, on the one year anniversary of the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh, on September 19, 2024, victims of Azerbaijani war crimes...
11:00
Armenian teams remain among leaders at Chess Olympiad
The Armenian national teams remain among the leaders in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, the Chess Federation of Armenia reports. In the...
17:03
Foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan visit Dadivank
Heads of embassies, international organizations and military attachés accredited in Azerbaijan on Wednesday visited the monastery of...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}