Egypt rights groups condemn defamation charges against judges News
Egypt rights groups condemn defamation charges against judges

[JURIST] Human rights groups have condemned the Egyptian Higher Judiciary Council's decision to strip three judges of immunity [JURIST report] after they protested voting irregularities [JURIST report] during the December parliamentary elections. Members of a group known as the Judges Club, the three were charged with defamation after they refused to monitor run-off elections in protest of the irregularities.

Vocal critics of the state's actions include the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies [official website] and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information [advocacy website], which has accused [press release] the government of "us[ing] the Public Prosecutor as a tool against reformists and democracy supporters in Egypt." Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak [official profile] has admitted flaws in the voting process [JURIST report]. Reuters has more.