Judges are Banned from Making Press Releases

The Egyptian Justice Minister, Mahmmud Abu el-Lail, who is also the president of the General Election Commission, issued a ministerial decree on Nov 27, to generally ban judges from making any press releases; they will be referred to the Attorney General, if violate. For the Judge Union, this thoroughly prohibition indented to prevent judges from disclosing the governmental involvements in marring the election integrity.

This decree was made in wake of a critical and furious meeting, in which Abu el-Lal and the members of the Judges Union’s board participated. Judges threatened to suspend their supervision over the third round and its run-off, respectively on December 1and 7.

In light of grave contraventions committed during the polls, judges commence to collect quota signatures to convene an extraordinary meeting of the union’s General Assembly.