Passing the judicial authority law will take us back to the era of medieval inquisitions, said the coordinator of Egyptian judges’ sit-in, calling on the minister of justice to be a part of the judges’ strike.

Judge Mohamed Abdel Razek warned against passing the proposed law, considering it the first step for the foundation of an absolute dictatorship, reported the London-based newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat.  

Judges went on an open-ended strike on Friday in protest against the judicial authority law, which has been initially approved by the Islamist-led Shura Council (upper house of parliament).

The proposed law sets the retirement age for judges at 60 instead of 70 years old, which would isolate around 3500 judges from their posts.

“The government tried to bribe the young judges through raising their salaries after sacking thousands of judges, but they refused,” the coordinator of the judges’ sit-in said.

The legal committee for defending judges, headed by Abdel Razek, has announced its intention to hold a sit-in a week ago, a moved supported by the Judges Club, which represents 90 percent of Egypt’s judges.

“If judges lose their independence and immunity, then they will be mere employees, acting upon roles imposed on them,” Abdel Razek stressed.