Egypt rejects foreign assessments of judicial system

The Foreign Ministry has categorically rejected attempts by foreign parties to assess and analyze court rulings, stressing that the Egyptian judiciary has always been fair.

Egypt will not accept to have its judiciary scrutinized, Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Aati said on Tuesday.

His remarks followed statements by foreign officials in which they commented on two criminal court rulings, in espionage and prison break cases, seeking the consultation of the mufti over possible death sentences.

Those foreign assessments and views about the judicial system in Egypt are unacceptable, Abdel Aati said, insisting the judicial system is fully independent.

The executive authority in Egypt is keen on maintaining the credibility of the judicial authority based on the concept of the separation of authorities, which is in the very heart of any democratic system, the spokesman explained.

Such foreign comments fail to recognize guarantees provided by the Egyptian constitution and law for defendants to get fair and impartial trials through the different degrees of litigation, Abdel Aati said.

The independence of the judicial system in any country should not be questioned, he said, stressing the it should be rather respected as one of many different systems worldwide.

It is this diversity that enriches the human civilization, Abel Aati noted.

Egyptian court rulings cannot possibly be influenced by foreign remarks, the spokesman added.