Egypt judges threaten escalation if controversial judiciary law approved

Egypt's Judges Club say they will take escalatory measures in protest against the approval of a law granting the president the power to appoint the heads of the country's judicial bodies.

The controversial law, which was approved by two-thirds of parliament on Wednesday, is yet to be ratified by the president.

It will allow the president to appoint the heads of Egypt's judicial bodies from three nominees proposed by each body.

The current judicial authority law stipulates that the heads of judicial bodies are selected based on seniority by their judicial councils, and that the president simply ratifies the council's selection.

The escalatory measures announced by the Judges Club include calling on the president not to ratify the new law, arguing that it violates the guarantee of an independent judiciary and a separation of powers as enshrined in Egypt's 2014 constitution.

They also include calling for a general assembly at the High Court next month to discuss the issue and submit the Club's resignation from the Egyptian Judges Association in protest of the law.

In addition, the Judges Club will demand the Supreme Judicial Council to confirm its rejection of the law and call on judges to follow its steps through appeals.

The Club's board also said they would raise the issue internationally and eventually hold strikes, as well as withhold from supervising future parliamentary elections.