Hours after a decision annulling the transfer of two Red Sea Islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, the Egyptian government launched an appeal to quash the ruling. The State Lawsuits Authority, which represents the government, will seek to overturn the decision before the Supreme Administrative Court. In a statement issued after yesterday’s Administrative Court decision, the government said that it respects the Egyptian judiciary but that it would appeal the decision. The Administrative Court had declared that the agreement transferring the islands was void, with Judge Yehia El-Dakroury ruling that the islands should remain part of Egyptian territory and that Egyptian sovereignty extends over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir. However, one government source said that the Administrative Court went beyond its scope of authority as it ruled on an issue subject to an international agreement. The source said that only Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court is able to rule on the islands transfer. Reacting to the decision to appeal the Administrative Court’s decision, some Egyptians on social media have been vocal with their anger, writing that the decision to appeal is preposterous. “The Egyptian gov is probably the only gov…
Egypt Government Appeals Court Decision Annulling Saudi Islands Transfer
June 22, 2016