Egypt's Supreme Court Intimidated into Another Postponement!
Even though the Supreme Court's State Judicial Council had paved the way for the Supreme Administrative Court to reject the appeal of a "non-party" to the lawsuit, in which Cairo's Administrative Court has permitted the Baha'is to obtain ID cards with "dashes" instead of religious identification, the Supreme Administrative Court appears to be hesitant to render a final decision in the case.
Today, in its scheduled session to rule on the appeal, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court decided to postpone, again, its ruling and re-scheduled it for 15 December 2008. Reportedly there were several hostile extremists present in the court chambers today, slandering the Baha'is and terrorizing the court proceedings. The Court was not able to render its decision in this atmosphere of terror and the apparent state of anarchy.
Today is a dark day for justice and a dark day for Egypt!
Today, in its scheduled session to rule on the appeal, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court decided to postpone, again, its ruling and re-scheduled it for 15 December 2008. Reportedly there were several hostile extremists present in the court chambers today, slandering the Baha'is and terrorizing the court proceedings. The Court was not able to render its decision in this atmosphere of terror and the apparent state of anarchy.
Today is a dark day for justice and a dark day for Egypt!
There is as yet unconfirmed report that court approved appeal of non-party applicants. December marks final deadline for remaining services requiring new ID: school registration, banks requesting new ID for account holders, vehicle & driver's license registration, and others.
ReplyDeleteIf they did so, it would be in direct conflict with the Court's State Judicial Council decision that has clearly forbidden any non-party appeals in this case.
ReplyDeleteAh religious bullying appears to prevail again. People of good will everywhere must stand up against such behavior which threatens the well-being of all of us, not just the Baha'is.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this will drag on and on.... It is possible though that the government will step in and do the right thing. The laws of the land support the rights of these minorities...it is only a matter of time until they are enforced.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that the court has delayed again. The delays only damage further Egypt's credibility in the eyes of a watching world, whereas upholding the rights of Baha'is will be viewed as forward-thinking and just.
ReplyDeleteWhere courtroom impartiality actually has force, a presiding judge would have censured the fanatics who insulted and threatened the Baha'is and had them thrown out of the courtroom or arrested.
ReplyDeleteOne has to feel sad for these people. I pray that Baha'u'llah will exercise His all-encompassing power to open their eyes and convert their hearts.
It is sad to say that the insulting language used against the Baha'is by these people (they were mostly extremist lawyers) was so repulsive to the extent that their words cannot be repeated in this or any other forum. They even declared that they will launch "the mother of all battles" against the Baha'is.
ReplyDeleteThis what was meant by writing that it "is a dark day for justice and a dark day for Egypt."
By the way, in my personal opinion, the Egyptian courts are showing the world that they are incapable of solving this serious matter. Potentially, these developments can give the impression that the court system in Egypt is on the verge of becoming inept. I would love to be proven wrong though!
ReplyDeleteThis matter must be, very soon, solved by the government, which can bring an end to this state of anarchy that can seriously undermine its own credibility as well as its own constitutional guarantees.
my only reply to the Court is thus....
ReplyDelete"O foolish one[s]! Thou hast slain the children of the Apostle and pillaged their possessions. Say: Was it, in thine estimation, their possessions or themselves that denied God? Judge fairly, O ignorant one[s] that hath been shut out as by a veil from God. Thou hast clung to tyranny, and cast away justice; whereupon all created things have lamented, and still thou art among the wayward. Thou hast put to death the aged, and plundered the young. Thinkest thou that thou wilt consume that which thine iniquity hath amassed? Nay, by Myself! Thus informeth thee He Who is cognizant of all. By God! The things thou possessest shall profit thee not, nor what thou hast laid up through thy cruelty.
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 100)
you people make me sick! what is wrong with the judicial system in Egypt???!!!!! As a democratic society, we as baha'is are entitled to equal civil rights and these no-nothing, do-nothing, religious whine-a-lots are not the ones in power. the sooner they know that they don't own the country, the sooner life will improve for us. If America can accept an African American president, Egypt should step up to the plate and develop religious tolerance for us bahais.
ReplyDeleteTerrorized the court proceedings? Insulted the Bahais? Who are they, these small, insignificant bunch of fanatical misfits, think they are to say such things? They don't run the country and they don't own the minds and hearts of the people. However, i express much disappointment that no one stood up to these modern Goliaths. Henry David Thoreau said it best-"there are 900 patrons of virtue to the one virtuous man". they are those of "feeble countenance" and will not fight for justice for their fellow countrymen and women.
ReplyDelete