Abdel Aziz al-Deriny, the rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee in the Lawyers Syndicate and member of the syndicate's board, has said that the committee will hold an urgent meeting Saturday to discuss the statements of Judges Club head Ahmed al-Zend.
Deriny said that the committee will likely file a suit at the public prosecutor’s office against Zend. “All options are open,” he said, adding that potential charges against Zend include insulting the legislative authority, inciting against its laws, and threatening foreign intervention in domestic issues.
Deriny said the Political Affairs Committee respects and venerates all of Egypt’s judges because the judiciary encourages stability and security in the country, and it was shocked at Zend’s remarks, which were "seditious" due to Zend explicitly insulting MPs.
“The top representative of judges who can speak on their behalf is the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Hossam al-Gheriany. Zend’s statements do not represent the majority of judges, but rather are his personal opinion,” Deriny added.
Sameh Ashour, head of the Lawyers Syndicate, refused to comment on Zend’s statements, saying, “They are still under study.”
Zend denounced Parliament on Thursday after People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny, an FJP MP, allocated a full session to discussing the verdict issued against former President Mubarak and high ranking Interior Ministry officials.
“Had we known the parliamentary election would bring these people to the legislature, we would not have supervised it,” Zend said at a press conference. He threatened that 4,000 judges would refuse to supervise the second round of the presidential election that is scheduled for 16 and 17 June.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
