Judicial code amendments prompt outcry on judiciary’s independence

The international press is also jumping on the amendments to the judicial code President Abdel Fattah El Sisi ratified on Thursday. Reuters notes that the judiciary sees these amendments as part of a “crackdown” that began in 2014 to reduce its independence and increase governmental control. The Associated Press notes that the amendments grant El Sisi power to appoint the heads of judicial bodies including the Court of Cassation, “which was seen as a last refuge for political prisoners.” Despite the judges’ bellowing, proponents of the amendments say they are necessary to give the government the necessary tools to combat terrorism, according to Jurist. Prior to the ratification of the amendments, Amnesty International said the law could undermine the independence of Egypt’s judiciary.