Egyptian court of cassation rejects UN’s statement on the ruling in Rabaa sit-in

The general body of the court of cassation judges, headed by Majdi Abul-Ela, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, has rejected a recent statement issued by Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the ruling in Rabaa sit-in issued on September 8 by the Cairo Criminal Court.

The general assembly issued a statement rejecting the content of the United Nations’ communiqué said that it had distorted the integrity and impartiality of the Egyptian judiciary. According to the general assembly, the statement released by the UN included inappropriate phrases regarding the Egyptian judiciary’s work and jurisdictions and evaluated its history.

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The general assembly affirmed the independence of the Egyptian judiciary and the impartiality of Egyptian judges.  Thus, the national judicial authorities are committed throughout the Egyptian judicial history to provide all the full guarantees for any defendant to exercise their right to self-defence and follow all constitutional and legal procedures that confirm this concept under Egyptian and international laws as well as human rights rules.

Thus, the general assembly added that Egypt was the first country to codify the first principles of human rights worldwide through its jurisprudence, currently taught in universities, international organisations, and forums.

The statement said:

We emphasize all the statements issued by the Egyptian State in its various institutions, the presidency, the Council of Ministers represented by the Foreign Minister as well as the Legislative Council represented by its President and members, in addition to all spectrums of official authorities, which all confirmed the independence and integrity of the Egyptian judiciary. All of the state structures reject interference with the affairs of the Egyptian judiciary system or prejudice on its provisions. The general assembly demands the UN Commission to correct the tone of its statements and the stance it has taken vis à vis this specific issue, and act with neutrality and professionalism in the future.