9 - 15 August 2001
Issue No.546
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 9 - 15 August 2001 Issue No.546 |
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A plum reward
EGYPT has nominated career diplomat Nabil El-Arabi to take over the judicial post of Algeria's Mohamed Bijawy at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague when Bijawy resigns his post on 30 September. Though there is no one else nominated for the post, the nomination needs to be approved by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly on 12 October. If approved, El-Arabi will serve out the rest of Bijawy's term, which ends in 2006.The ICJ is presided over by 15 judges, who serve nine-year terms. El- Arabi has held several high posts in an illustrious diplomatic career, including Egypt's permanent representative to the UN.
Mahran gains ground
THE Administrative Court on Sunday overturned a decision by the Press Syndicate to revoke the membership of Al-Nabaa editor Maher Mahran and his son, Hatem. Mahran, who is the chief editor and board chairman of the suspended weekly newspapers Al- Nabaa and Akher Khabar, gained notoriety two months ago for publishing an explicit exposé on the alleged lurid activities of defrocked monk Adel Saadallah Gabriel. The court's decision was a small victory for Mahran, who faces numerous other charges in connection to the story.Published in Al-Nabaa on 17 and 18 June, the story included scandalous photos allegedly exposing Gabriel's sexual misconduct, but failed to mention that the monk had been expelled from Deir Al-Muharraq Monastery, near the southern city of Assiut, several years ago. The paper also claimed that Gabriel's activities took place in the monastery.
Though the Press Syndicate expelled Mahran on 23 June, it managed to sidestep an accusation of violating the syndicate's code of ethics by charging Mahran with being publisher, editor and shareholder at both papers -- a violation of the syndicate's regulations. However, the Administrative Court declared the syndicate's move illegal, as Mahran turned over the ownership of his shares to his second son, Khaled, while Hatem Mahran surrendered his shares to his wife, Amani Soliman, on 2 June.
But syndicate lawyer Sayed Abu Zeid told reporters that the syndicate has documents proving that Mahran continues to be a shareholder. The syndicate has contested the court decision with the Supreme Constitutional Court, and lawyer Naguib Gabriel, who represents the Coptic Church, has filed a counter-appeal with the Urgent Matters Court demanding that the ruling is not implemented until the Supreme Constitutional Court hears the case.
Referring to the Administrative Court's 4 July order to close Al-Nabaa and revoke its licence, Gabriel fumed: "How can the same court revoke Al- Nabaa's licence, but, at the same time, allow its owners to write in other newspapers?" Mahran has filed an appeal with the Higher Administrative Court.
Mahran is also on trial before the State Security Misdemeanours Court in a case brought against him by the State Security Prosecutor. He is facing five charges that carry up to 12 years imprisonment. His lawyers have contested the jurisdiction of the court and demanded a retrial before another circuit.
Mahran's lawyers also contested the prosecutor's decision to refer him to a state security court that invokes the emergency law, claiming that this violated Mahran's right to be tried as a regular civilian, with the right to appeal. The case was adjourned by the Administrative Court until 4 September.
One more thing ...
COURT hearings in the six-year saga known as the case of the loan deputies resumed this week, following a recent decision by the Court of Cassation to annul last year's ruling by the Supreme State Security Court. Mohamed Kheir, a lawyer at the prosecutor- general's office, emphasised on Saturday that the ruling was thrown out in response to an appeal filed by the prosecutor-general.
Defendants in the case -- among them four former members of parliament -- include 16 businessmen and 15 banking officials accused of financial malpractices amounting to more than LE1 billion and face sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years in jail with hard labour.
Kheir indicated that the defendants were originally sentenced on two charges: profiteering and obtaining loans and credit facilities without adequate collateral. The Court of Cassation decided that the defendants should also be tried for illegal acquisition of public funds, in order to compel defendants to pay back the money they had acquired illegally.
Staying in touch
THE Coptic Orthodox Church will organise 11 conferences for Coptic expatriates in the United States and Canada in August and September. An announcement issued by the Coptic Church indicated that the aim of the conferences would be to cement relations between expatriates and their motherland, promote eastern traditions among new generations and correct misconceptions that might hurt the nation's image abroad.
Compiled by Shaden Shehab
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