Atlantic Council

Amid mounting tension between Egypt's Islamist political forces and the judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood lawyer Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsoud described Tuesday's ruling by Egypt's High Constitutional Court (HCC), which overturned a presidential decree reinstating the People's Assembly, as "worthless." "We have filed a lawsuit calling for the replacement of the presiding judges in the case, since it has been proven that these judges were not qualified to look into the case," Abdel-Maqsoud told reporters following Tuesday's court ruling.  

GOVERNMENT 

Wafd Party dismisses two MPs for attending Parliament session

[Egypt Independent, 7/10/2012] Wafd Party head Al-Sayed al-Bedawy dismissed two MPs from the party and referred another to investigation for attending the People’s Assembly session on Tuesday. MPs Hana Abul Gheit and Ahmed Wahdan were dismissed from the party after they failed to comply with the Wafd Party’s directive not to attend the session. The Wafd Party executive council declared that the People’s Assembly is invalid under the decision of the Supreme Constitutional Court. The deputy head of the party, Mohamed Abdel Aleem, also attended the session and will be investigated by a party committee.

Brotherhood lawyer: Constitutional court ruling on People's Assembly 'worthless'

[Ahram Online, Youm7 (Arabic), 7/10/2012] Amid mounting tension between Egypt's Islamist political forces and the judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood lawyer Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsoud described Tuesday's ruling by Egypt's High Constitutional Court (HCC), which overturned a presidential decree reinstating the People's Assembly, as "worthless." "We have filed a lawsuit calling for the replacement of the presiding judges in the case, since it has been proven that these judges were not qualified to look into the case," Abdel-Maqsoud told reporters following Tuesday's court ruling. 

COURTS

Egypt court overrules president over parliament

[Reuters, 7/11/2012] Egypt's Islamist-led parliament reconvened on Tuesday in an open challenge to the generals who dissolved it last month. The supreme court swiftly ruled the newly elected, Islamist president had acted illegally in summoning the assembly, heightening a confrontation between the newly elected head of state and an establishment that once served Hosni Mubarak. In sign the standoff would not end swiftly, Brotherhood officials were quick on Tuesday to question the court's right to rule against the president's decree and vowing to fight on. Egypt's troubled transition to democracy is increasingly being fought in the courts, but that masks a much deeper conflict with an establishment rooted in six decades of military rule, half of that period under the leadership of Mubarak. 

Lawsuit against National Defense Council postponed

[Egypt Independent, 7/11/2012] The State Council Administrative Court postponed a lawsuit against the reactivation of the National Defense Council to 2 October. The Al-Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, along with former presidential candidate Khaled Ali, filed a case arguing that the recreation of the NDC is an attempt to solidify the military council’s domination over the state.

SOCIETY 

Egypt court's parliament verdict angers Islamists

[Ahram Online, 7/11/2012] The High Constitutional Court's (HCC) decision on Tuesday night to cancel President Mohamed Morsi's reinstatement of the People's Assembly has provoked an angry response from Egyptian Islamists. "The HCC is making itself the guardian of political life in Egypt and this will back fire on everyone," said Yasser Hammad, spokesman of the Salafist Nour Party. "The verdict was a shock to the Muslim Brotherhood," said Ali Bateekh, a member of the group's Guidance Bureau. Blocking the president's decision is not part of the HCC's jurisdiction, he added. However, despite his misgivings, Morsi is likely to accept the court's decision, stated Bateekh.

Revolutionary group calls for disbanding supreme court

[Egypt Independent, 7/11/2012] The Union of Revolutionary Youth called on President Mohamed Morsy to dissolve the Supreme Constitutional Court, in a statement Wednesday, saying the judiciary needs to be immediately purged of Mubarak’s men to build a sound democratic system. They added that the continuation of the current court poses a threat to the revolution.

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

US concerned about Egypt's transition ahead of Clinton visit

[Egypt Independent, 7/11/2012] The United States has said any hurdles to democratic transition in Egypt would be a source of concern, stressing that it hopes Egypt would proceed with transition to deliver the goals protesters expressed through their revolution. US State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said the democratic transition is vital for both countries, noting that various players in Egypt have different perspectives about how it should move forward.

Morsi meets with a delegation from the Libyan TNC to discuss weapons smuggling, labor

[El Watan (Arabic), 7/11/2012] Dr. Ahmed Belhaj, a member of the Libyan Transitional Council, confirmed a meeting with President Mohamed Morsi to discuss the Libyan arms smuggling across the Egyptian border, adding that Mursi noted the necessity for mechanisms and tightened coordination to deal with this crisis. Belhadj indicated Morsi’s desire for increased attention to Egyptian labor in Libya, considering the Egyptian need for employment.

Tunisian President to visit Egypt Friday

[Egypt Independent, 7/11/2012] Tunisian President Moncef al-Marzouki is scheduled to visit Egypt on Friday for the first time since the breakout of Arab revolutions. The Tunisian President will meet with President Mohamed Morsy at the presidential palace in Heliopolis, to congratulate him on winning the election. The two presidents will hold a meeting to discuss ways to consolidate bilateral relations and expand economic cooperation.

Morsy travels to Saudi Arabia for first state visit

[Egypt Independent, Youm7 (Arabic) 7/11/2012] Marking his first state visit as president, Mohamed Morsy traveled to Saudi Arabia Wednesday to meet with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. During the two-day visit, the heads of state will discuss trade and ways to boost bilateral relations. Morsy is also expected to perform the Umra pilgrimage and meet with Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz and other senior Saudi officials.

Photo Credit: AP