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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Egypt's judicial council to oversee referendum despite calls for boycott | Egypt's judicial council to oversee referendum despite calls for boycott |
| (30 days later) | |
| Egypt's supreme judicial council will oversee a mid-December referendum on the draft constitution, despite calls for a boycott from other parts of the judiciary. | Egypt's supreme judicial council will oversee a mid-December referendum on the draft constitution, despite calls for a boycott from other parts of the judiciary. |
| Even though the council is the highest judicial body, its declaration puts it on a collision course with the Judges Club, a broader body that counts the majority of Egypt's judges among its members. | Even though the council is the highest judicial body, its declaration puts it on a collision course with the Judges Club, a broader body that counts the majority of Egypt's judges among its members. |
| The Judges Club said its members would not supervise the referendum – mandated by law – until a constitutional decree issued by the president, Mohamed Morsi, which granted him immunity from judicial oversight was revoked. | The Judges Club said its members would not supervise the referendum – mandated by law – until a constitutional decree issued by the president, Mohamed Morsi, which granted him immunity from judicial oversight was revoked. |
| However, it is the council that is the official representative of the judiciary, the Judges Club being an unofficial body, and therefore the 15 December referendum on the constitution will take place with judicial supervision. | However, it is the council that is the official representative of the judiciary, the Judges Club being an unofficial body, and therefore the 15 December referendum on the constitution will take place with judicial supervision. |
| "The Judges Club does not speak for the Egyptian judiciary, but the council does, but this does show the deep divisions amongst the judiciary because the council members are also members of the Judges Club," said Amr Fathy of the Arab Centre for Judicial Independence. | "The Judges Club does not speak for the Egyptian judiciary, but the council does, but this does show the deep divisions amongst the judiciary because the council members are also members of the Judges Club," said Amr Fathy of the Arab Centre for Judicial Independence. |
| The council also delegated members of the public prosecution alongside judges to oversee the referendum, which means that conceivably any shortage from judges who remain on strike can be made up with public prosecutors. | The council also delegated members of the public prosecution alongside judges to oversee the referendum, which means that conceivably any shortage from judges who remain on strike can be made up with public prosecutors. |
| Morsi's decree, and the resulting rush to push through the draft constitution to bring an end to the crisis, have created uproar in Egypt, triggering protests and counter-protests. He contends that the powers of the decree are temporary until a constitution is passed, and has called for a national dialogue, but opponents say he is attempting to force through a constitution containing equivocal articles on human rights and civil liberties. | Morsi's decree, and the resulting rush to push through the draft constitution to bring an end to the crisis, have created uproar in Egypt, triggering protests and counter-protests. He contends that the powers of the decree are temporary until a constitution is passed, and has called for a national dialogue, but opponents say he is attempting to force through a constitution containing equivocal articles on human rights and civil liberties. |
| Speaking to CNN yesterday, Prime Minister Hisham Qandil said: "President Morsi has repeatedly given assurances that this is not a dictatorship, there will be no abuse of power and the declaration drops after the referendum passes." | Speaking to CNN yesterday, Prime Minister Hisham Qandil said: "President Morsi has repeatedly given assurances that this is not a dictatorship, there will be no abuse of power and the declaration drops after the referendum passes." |
| "This constitution is a balanced one and doesn't put the law in the hands of God. The people will vote for a constitution written by their elected representatives," he added. | "This constitution is a balanced one and doesn't put the law in the hands of God. The people will vote for a constitution written by their elected representatives," he added. |
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