Egypt’s public prosecutor, appointed by President Mohamed Morsi, resigned from his post on Monday, in a move that was seen by Morsi’s opponents as a victory for the independence of the judiciary.
The public prosecutor, Talaat Ibrahim, stepped down after unrest among the judges, who described President Morsi’s decision to sack the former public prosecutor and appoint Ibrahim as an assault on the independence of the judiciary.
The former public prosecutor, Abdel Maguid Mahmoud, who is susceptible to stand trial for violence against protestors during the uprising, was initially sacked by president Morsi to appease protestors demanding trials of officials involved in carrying violence against them.
However, the consequent appointment of a new prosecutor of Morsi’s choosing resulted in dissatisfaction amongst the judges who said the president’s actions threatened their independence.
