Rivalry persists

The Bar Association's Nasserist chairman and a council dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood continue to clash, writes Mona El-Nahhas

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Since the Bar Association's last elections, in March 2005, the row between syndicate chairman Sameh Ashour and members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, who occupy 15 out of the 24 council seats, has failed to be stemmed.

Ashour's camp, which includes nine members, the majority of whom are Nasserists, and the MBs, dubbed "the group of 15", continue to level accusations at one another. Accusations of financial infringements, wasting syndicate money and claims that the performance of the syndicate is deteriorating have been repeatedly exchanged.

Violence, police reports, investigations and the lack of a genuine dialogue have become the norm at the Bar Association.

Appeals and counter-appeals are now in courts, threatening the legitimacy of the current syndicate council.

Following the announcement of the results of last year's elections, the MBs filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court contesting the authenticity of the results and asking for a re-count. They accused the state of rigging the elections in favour of their man Ashour.

Results of the re-count, which were included in a report prepared by the State Council's legal advisors, were as before . Ashour was given the victory and two MB members came out losers.

The report is still before the Administrative Court. The total number of seats occupied by the MB will be reduced to 13 if the court abides by the report in its final ruling.

The tense atmosphere has, some say, affected the council's performance. Pre-election promises to upgrade services offered to members have not been kept.

The Bar Association, often called the fortress of freedom, has been absent from the political scene. In the latest crisis, the syndicate was criticised for not taking action to show support for judges. The MBs accused Ashour of taking the government's side while dealing with judges.

According to Mohamed Toson, MB spokesman in the council, Ashour refused to sign a statement drafted by the council expressing solidarity with the judges. "For him, the judges' battle for independence was nothing but a manoeuvre to receive financial privileges," Toson said, accusing Ashour of being the direct reason behind marginalising the role of the Bar Association.

The judiciary crisis was not the only issue from which the Bar Association was absent. Political detainees, emergency laws, the press law and other heated political issues of the day were not included in the Bar's agenda.

On the regional scene, the council accused Ashour of not backing Palestinians. "Financial aid allocated to the Palestinian people, estimated at 50,000 euros, was not given to them," Toson claimed.

"We knew nothing about such a sum of money. The syndicate's budget has not been discussed since 2004," Toson added.

Ashour denied the accusations, saying his patriotism was well known to everyone. He accused the MBs of investing in political issues to serve their own interests.

The verbal war between Ashour and the MBs started in 2001, the year Bar elections were held for the first time after six years of judicial sequestration imposed on the syndicate.

It was the 2001 elections which resulted in a Nasserist chairman and eight members of the MBs securing nearly one-third of the council's seats. The lack of harmony between Ashour and the MBs divided the syndicate council into two camps. While Ashour attempted to minimise the influence of the MB in the council, the MBs sought to marginalise Ashour's role.

Realising it will be impossible for them to co-exist, Ashour and the MBs were determined to outdo each other in the 2005 elections. Ironically though, the elections only served to help ensure the battle will continue.