Sharia Alert from AFP, with thanks to Twostellas:
CAIRO – Egyptian women must not sit as judges because it would be against Islamic law or Sharia as they would have to spend time alone with men, a male Egyptian judge was quoted as saying on Saturday.
A woman judge would “˜contradict Article Two of the constitution” which states that the principal source of legislation is Sharia, judges” syndicate president Yahia Ragheb Daqruri was quoted as saying.
The judges” syndicate position “˜is based on the consensus of doctors of law and the principles of Sharia,” the Al Masri Al Yom daily quoted Daqruri as saying.
“˜When a woman works as a judge, her work requires her to be alone in a room with two or more male judges to deliberate… Is this appropriate?
“˜Citizens and others present (in court) will be surprised by the presence of a woman judge. A woman judge will also become pregnant at some point, and that will certainly have an impact on the judiciary”s prestige and on judges” public image,” he said, without elaborating.
“˜Giving birth can also have an impact on the cases she is dealing with being dealt with correctly,” he said, again without elaborating.