Egypt: 15 judges forced in to retirement for ‘getting involved in politics’

An Egyptian judicial body forced 15 judges in to retired for “practicing in politics”, a judicial source said yesterday.

In March 2014, 70 judges were referred to a disciplinary board; some were accused of issuing a statement that supported ousted President Mohamed Morsi, while others were thought to have formed the Judges for Egypt movement.

A judicial source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Anadolu Agency that the Egyptian High Council of Justice’s disciplinary board, which was held yesterday in Cairo, decided to force 15 judges to retire.

According to the same source, the judges faced charges of belonging to a political movement which is contrary to the provisions of the law that prohibits judges to work in politics.

The same source added that the disciplinary board’s rulings are final and not subject to appeal.

Rulings on the remaining 55 judges were postponed to 28 March.

During the past three years, administrative decisions were issued to suspend dozens of judges over their “engagement in politics”.