Egypt's Lawyers Syndicate has postponed a nationwide strike initially scheduled for July 7-8, citing signals of renewed dialogue with judicial authorities over controversial automation fees.
In a statement issued Saturday evening, the syndicate said the decision came after recent changes to the Supreme Judicial Council and the departure of senior officials, including Cairo Appeals Court President Mohamed Nasr Sayed, whose office had introduced a 10% increase in fees for court services.
The council also cited what it described as a “sincere willingness from relevant institutions to resume dialogue in the interest of the public.”
The Lawyers Syndicate rejected the measures on March 8, deeming them unconstitutional and threatening a full boycott of court treasuries as an initial response.
The strike would have included a complete boycott of court sessions, interactions with prosecutors, and dealings with treasury offices in courthouses across Egypt.
Meanwhile, 10 human rights organizations declared their solidarity with the Lawyers Syndicate, calling the recent fee hikes “arbitrary increases” that obstruct access to justice.
“The increase in litigation fees does not pose a challenge only for lawyers,” the rights groups said, “but rather imposes an additional obstacle that prevents citizens from resorting to justice and opens the door to income-based discrimination among citizens in exercising this vital right.”
The groups emphasized that the right to litigation is guaranteed by Egypt's constitution and international conventions, highlighting Articles 97 and 98.
The statement added that the policy marks a trend of “commodifying judicial services,” and warned against undermining the syndicate's broader role in upholding access to legal defense.
“The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate’s role is not limited to regulating the practice of the legal profession,” the statement read, “but extends to ensuring the right to adequate defense and providing legal assistance to those who need it. Lawyers – along with the judiciary and the Public Prosecution – play a strong and indispensable role in implementing justice on the ground.”
It also referenced Article 25 of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which stipulates that professional associations of lawyers shall cooperate with governments to ensure that everyone has effective and equal access to legal services.
The groups called for suspending the new fees and reaffirmed the syndicate's right to protest using all legal and peaceful means, warning against judicial overreach aimed at silencing dissent or curbing citizens' access to justice.
Signatories to the statement include the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, El Nadeem Center, Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, Egyptian Front for Human Rights, Egyptian Human Rights Forum, EgyptWide for Human Rights, Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, and the Refugees Platform in Egypt.
