Introduction

The relevant parliamentary committee has completed its discussions on the draft of the new Criminal Procedures Law, which is currently under review by the Legislative Committee in Parliament as this paper is being written We view this draft as lacking significant value and importance particularly in light of the ongoing expansion of the powers granted to the Public Prosecution in this domain There is a clear sidelining of the judicial authority in supervising and monitoring the actions of the Public Prosecution during the procedures it undertakes in accordance with the law This undoubtedly impacts the course of criminal trials and the fates of defendants who must be presumed innocent until the judiciary renders a final ruling A review of the historical legislative amendments to the Criminal Procedures Law reveals a consistent trend among lawmakers to tighten and enhance the authority of police officers and the Public Prosecution This reflects a clear and systematic philosophy that aligns the proposed amendment with a series of changes advocated by jurists  lawyers, and others

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In light of the campaign launched by the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession (ACIJLP) since August 21 to unveil the hazards of the proposed Criminal Procedures Law, and to advocate for a pause in its issuance process for a genuine, public, and transparent community dialogue involving all sectors of civil society — such as unions, universities, political parties, human rights organizations, experts, and public figures — ACIJLP has finalized an alternative version for 50 critical articles of the draft law.

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 The Justice Support Foundation (JSF) at the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) is closely and attentively monitoring the renewed discussions on amending the Criminal Procedures Law, currently under review by the subcommittee of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. The committee has reached a preliminary consensus on these amendments, which are slated for presentation to the House of Representatives in the upcoming session this October for ratification. The proposed amendments include the reduction of pretrial detention periods, the abolition of the chapter on physical coercion, and the introduction of regulations and standards for remote trials. The bill, initially drafted in 2017, has faced delays for various reasons.

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On the 40th anniversary of the International Convention against Torture, the Justice Support Foundation affiliated with the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) calls on the Egyptian government to take immediate steps to amend the definition of the crime of torture in Egyptian law to align with Article no. 1 of the international Convention against Torture. The foundation also calls upon the Egyptian government to sign as well the Optional Protocol attached to the Convention in accordance with Article no 93 of the Egyptian Constitution which mandates Egypt’s commitment to treaties and international agreements it joins and publishes in the Official Gazette considering them an integral part of national legislation that must be enforced and implemented .

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Urgent Statement Subjecting members of the judiciary to training at the military academy: A severe violation of the independence of the judiciary

Justice Support Foundation affiliated with the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession ACIJLP expresses its deep concern and alarm over recent reports indicating that the Egyptian Military Academy celebrated the graduation of the first batch of newly appointed judicial officers (Group B) following their training at the academy headquarters in the Military College at the beginning of July.

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 The Justice Support Foundation affiliated with the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession ACIJLP expresses its deep concern and condemnation of the practices taking place in the terrorism circuits of the criminal courts at the Badr Courts Complex, which in their entirety represent a grave violation of the principles and standards of fair trials, as well as a waste of the right to defense, without which the trial of the accused loses an essential pillar of its fair foundations and justice. On June 29, more than a thousand defendants were presented for renewal of their detention before the Third Circuit of Cairo Criminal Courts, which led to the withdrawal of all lawyers from the circuit while automatically renewing the detention of the accused without the presence of their lawyers and without even enabling them of defending themselves. Moreover, the renewals were conducted via video conference.

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