Egypt's highest court joins judicial rebellion against Morsi

Supporters of Morsi, who hails from the Islamic fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, claim that the court's judges remain loyal to Mubarak, who appointed them, and accuse them of trying to derail Egypt's transition to democratic rule.

In addition to the high court's expected ruling Sunday on the legitimacy of the constitution-drafting panel, it was also expected to rule on another body dominated by Morsi supporters, parliament's upper chamber.

Though Morsi's Nov.

22 decrees provide immunity to both bodies against the courts, a ruling that declares the two illegitimate would have vast symbolic significance, casting doubt on the standing of both.

The Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice party, sought to justify the action of its supporters outside the court as a peaceful protest.

It reiterated its charge that some members of the judiciary were part and parcel of Mubarak's autocratic policies.

``The wrong practices by a minority of judges and their preoccupation with politics .

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.

will not take away the respect people have for the judiciary,'' it said.

Its explanation, however, failed to calm the anger felt by many activists and politicians.

``President Morsi must take responsibility before the entire world for terrorizing the judiciary,'' veteran rights campaigner and opposition leader Abdel-Halim Kandil wrote in his Twitter account about the events outside the constitutional court.

Liberal activist and former lawmaker Amr Hamzawy warned what is ahead may be worse.

``The president and his group (the Muslim Brotherhood) are leading Egypt into a period of darkness par excellence,'' he said.

``He made a dictatorial decision to hold a referendum on an illegal constitution that divides society, then a siege of the judiciary to terrorize it.

'' Egypt has been rocked by several bouts of unrest, some violent, since Mubarak was forced to step down in the face of a popular uprising.

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