Judges Become New Focal Point for Egyptian Democracy and Human Rights Advocates

New York, May 18, 2006

Attempts to remove from the bench two senior Egyptian judges, Hisham al-Bastawisi and Mahmoud Mekky, for their outspoken criticism of electoral fraud and intimidation of voters and poll monitors, have developed into a stand off between the authorities and a broad alliance of civil society organizations and opposition political parties in Egypt.

The flurry of coalition building and public protest recall the growth of the Kifaya (The Arabic word means “enough”) movement in the months leading up to the presidential elections in September 2005. Many of the same organizations are now engaged in protesting in support of the judges, but they are substantially strengthened in their current efforts because they are acting in concert with much of the Egyptian judiciary, which has identified the attempt to discipline these two judges for carrying out their professional obligations a threat to the independence of the profession.

The peaceful protests in support of the judges have been met by the deployment of thousands of riot police in the streets and the detention of hundreds of activists, some forty of whom have been charged with endangering national security. The authorities’ use of force to break up and suppress peaceful demonstrations has been widely criticized, including in statements by the European Union and the U.S. government.

Further protests are scheduled to take place in Cairo today, May 18, when the two judges are again scheduled to appear before the judicial disciplinary board to receive their punishment. Judge al-Bastawisi and Judge Mekki have stated they will not attend any hearing until the riot police are removed from the streets and until all of the activists detained in peaceful demonstrations are released from prison. A general protest and a day of national and international solidarity with the Egyptian judiciary has been declared for May 25, 2006 as a focal point for support for the independence of the judiciary in Egypt.

Human Rights First is calling for the dropping of the disciplinary charges against the two judges and for the release of all detainees held in connection with the protests staged on their behalf in recent weeks.