Egyptian Judges' Club expels 75 for anti-coup sympathies

The Egyptian Judges’ Club has decided to expel 75 of its General Assembly members following a complaint to the Supreme Judicial Council accusing them of siding with a political faction.

According to Al-Jazeera, the club’s media spokesman and advisor, Mahmoud Helmi Sharif, said that the 75 who have been expelled took part in the Rabaa Al-Adawiyya protests under the name “Judges of the Independence Movement”.

“By standing up for the legitimacy of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, said Sharif, “these judges revealed their political affiliation.” He insisted that it is unprofessional for a judge to disclose such affiliations in any way, as it “violates neutrality and independence”.

Sharif explained that Egypt’s judges derive their authority from the people, who are the source of all authority. “Judges should not be against a faction of the Egyptian people in any way,” he insisted. “Neutrality is important so that they can deal with cases impartially.”