Independent judges reject constitutional declaration

A number of judges forming a group called the "independent current in the judiciary" expressed its rejection of the constitutional declaration issued by President Mohamed Morsi on Thursday. In a statement, signed by 20 judges, the group said the set of decisions taken by the president, although some of them being popular demands, were issued on the expense of democracy and freedom. Holding re-investigations and retrials as set out in the declaration undermines the powers and independence of the judiciary and could lead to losing the credibility of court rulings, the statement said. Immunizing presidential decisions issued is definitely not a way to achieve democracy but a step toward authoritarianism, it added. Among the judges that signed the statement are assistants to the justice minister Zaghloul el-Balshi and Hisham Raouf and justice ministry spokesman Ahmed Roshdi Salam.