There have been many protests lately calling for female judges to be allowed to work for the State Council. All segments of society are talking about the issue. It has become the number one topic for gossip.
Female lawyers, human rights activists and judges say the council discriminates among citizens by refusing to appoint female judges, a clear violation of the Egyptian Constitution which requires equal opportunity for all citizens.
Lawyer Hoda Nasrallah says that "Egyptian society discriminates against women in general. They are looked upon as unable to assume responsibility. But the laws are clear and they do give women their rights."
"The State Council has no right to vote against appointing women because it is not a legislative power," Nasrallah says.
"The judge who will rule on the lawsuit we filed against the council is a member of the council," Nasrallah adds. "How can that be? Won’t there be a conflict of interests?"
"Whenever we women take a step forward, societal traditions bring us back ten steps," Nasrallah concludes.
Hend Mahmoud, another lawyer, says: "Some claim that female judges might be lenient with female lawyers. This is nonsense. We are all equal before the law. A judge, whether man or woman, will never tamper with people’s futures so as to do a favor for his or her gender."
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
