The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate is organizing a general strike on Tuesday in response to the arrest of two lawyers by security forces in the delta city of Tanta for allegedly assaulting the local public prosecutor.
“If the strike doesn’t resolve the problem we will take matters further,” syndicate head Hamdi Khalifa said at a press conference on Monday, requesting that the prosecutor face trial. “It was he who assaulted the lawyers–not the other way round.”
Lawyers also threatened to go on a hunger strike during their colleagues’ court hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday.
The chairmen of various judges clubs met on Sunday to discuss what they describe as the “intimidation” of judges and prosecutors by lawyers.
According to informed sources, police plan to step up security around the courthouse in anticipation of disturbances by lawyers during the hearing.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
