Cairo: Egypt`s National Council for Women (NCW) has condemned the decision of the Council of State against appointing female judges.
The NCW on Thursday held an emergency meeting to discuss the decision of the Council of State, an influential court which advises the government.
"I am happy with the NGOs` protest in support of women`s rights," head of the NCW Furkhandah Hasan said.
The Council of State`s association voted against appointing women as judges in the council. The move was slammed by human rights activists.
As many as 380 judges took part in the general assembly and voted, with 334 rejecting the appointment of females to judicial posts and 42 agreeing, with four abstentions.
The State Council is an administrative court system with jurisdiction over cases involving the state.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has voluntarily entered the face-veil controversy saying it wipes out a woman`s personality.
He said the niqab was a matter of personal freedom but that it should not trespass on other people`s rights, warning that some students used it to cheat in exams.
An Egyptian court last month ruled against a ban on the niqab in female schools affiliated with the Islamic Al-Azhar University. It also ruled against an Education Ministry ban on the niqab in university residences and examination halls, saying it violated the women`s constitutional liberties.
PTI
