Hamdy Yassien, Vice President of the State Council and the President of the Council Judges Club (Photo: Ahram Arabic News Website)
Members of the higher council of the Egyptian State Council's judges club will not supervise the upcoming second phase of Egypt's constitutional referendum, club head Hamdi Yassin stated on Monday evening.
Yassin said the decision was due to "unfulfilled promises" on the part of official entities that had been agreed upon before the referendum.
"Every judge in the State Council has the right to decline to supervise the second phase of the referendum," Yassin stated.
He went on to cite several points on which judges had earlier conditioned their participation. These included securing the supreme referendum committee and associated sub-committees; protecting voters and judges; and banning electioneering outside the committees.
"No judge will allow his dignity to be compromised," said Yassin.
He went on to call for an end to the "siege" of certain state institutions, especially Egypt's High Constitutional Court.
Last Saturday, Egyptians voted in the first phase of a contentious constitutional referendum. The second phase of voting is scheduled to take place next Saturday.
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