Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei criticized what he called “intervention in judiciary work” in the trial of NGO employees. On his Twitter account, ElBaradei wrote that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the case, intervening in judicial matters “kills” democracy. The three presiding judges recused themselves on February 28 from the trial of 43 foreign and Egyptian NGO employees, reportedly under pressure from the SCAF.

ELECTIONS/PARLIAMENT:

1) Free Egyptians MP Mohamed Abu Hamed accused FJP and Salafi MPs of thwarting attempts to summon Field Marshal Tantawi for questioning. Dozens of requests for questioning of the SCAF were submitted to People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny, but have been turned down without an explanation, and were not put up for a vote, according to Hamed. [al-Ahram, English, 3/1/2012]

2) Islamist presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who was recently the victim of a carjacking, said that he holds the military and Interior Ministry (former as well as current officers) responsible for the current unrest and instability, citing the “presence of a criminal organization operating under the cover of the security services, which continues to terrorize the people … alongside the political mismanagement of the ruling generals. [al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 3/1/2012]

CONSTITUTION:

3) An anonymous FJP clarified the timeline for the formation of a constituent assembly, saying that members of both houses of parliament will vote and decide on the members of the committee in a joint session on March 17. Prior to that session, the FJP will propose forming a 30-member committee to devise a mechanism for selection the 100 members of the assembly, and the procedures will be subject to a vote of both houses on March 10. [Dar al-Hayat, Arabic, 3/1/2012]

NGO INVESTIGATION:

4) Egypt’s airport authorities have been informed that 7 indicted American NGO workers are cleared to leave the country, after a judge announced on February 29 that the travel ban would be lifted. [Reuters, English, 3/1/2012]

5) Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei criticized what he called “intervention in judiciary work” in the trial of NGO employees. On his Twitter account, ElBaradei wrote that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the case, intervening in judicial matters “kills” democracy. The three presiding judges recused themselves on February 28 from the trial of 43 foreign and Egyptian NGO employees, reportedly under pressure from the SCAF. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 3/1/2012]

6) MP Mohamed Abdel-Alim Dawoud questioned Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri and Justice Minister Abdel Abdel Hamid over reports that the travel ban on American NGO workers will be lifted, an action he described as “terrorism and interference in the work of the judiciary.” [al-Shorouk, Arabic, 3/1/2012]

SECTARIAN ISSUES:

7) While the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic churches in Egypt formally endorsed an Anglican initiative to meet with Muslim Brotherhood leaders on February 28, several Coptic groups have rejected the proposal for dialogue. Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and his deputy Rashad al-Bayoumy, along with other group officials, received a high-level Christian delegation on February 28 to discuss citizenship issues and religious freedoms. The Maspero Youth Union said it will only meet with the Brotherhood if the group clarifies its stance on citizenship and accepts the representation of Copts in the constituent assembly. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 3/1/2012]

Photo Credit: The Guardian.

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