The High Disciplinary Council stated on Sunday reasons behind its ruling upholding the forced retirement of 32 judges over their violation of the Judicial Authority Law.

The judges were members of the so-called Judges for Egypt group suspected of being affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood.

In 2012, the group released a statement supporting former president Mohamed Morsi’s election.

They also issued what came to be known as the Rabea Statement in July of 2013, to voice their support for Morsi after he was ousted from power. 

The judges were forced into retirement by the Supreme Judicial Council on March 14, 2015, but later filed an appeal on the grounds that the verdict was unlawful.

The High Disciplinary Council postponed the verdict to March 28 when it upheld the ruling.

In today statement, the High Disciplinary Council said the judges were engaged in political activity in violation of judicial laws and that sided with a political faction at the expense of the state.

Under Judicial Authority law, judges are prohibited to give their political views.

The council also acquitted 23 other judges involved in the case, saying evidence showed that they had nothing to do with Rabaa statement that demonstrated support for Morsi shortly after he was deposed in July 2013.

Source: MENA