Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has faced strong opposition, following a decree issued on Thursday, that consolidated power over the judiciary with the president.
Amidst protests in Cairo square, prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei called on the president revoke the decree that granted him near absolute powers over the judiciary.
“I am waiting to see, I hope soon, a very strong statement of condemnation by the U.S, by Europe and by everybody who really cares about human dignity,” he said.
Demonstrations in Cairo square continued for a second day, resulting in Egyptian security forces firing tear gas at protesters.
Egypt’s association of judges called for a judges’ strike to bring the judiciary system to a halt, until the decree was repealed.
Egypt’s highest judicial authority, the Supreme Judicial Council, described the president’s decree as an “unprecedented attack” on the independence of the judiciary.
