The Algerian judiciary sector has been paralyzed for two days after judges went on an open-ended strike which started on October 27th, in response to a call from their union. The strike came against the backdrop of the extensive reshuffle by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of about 3,000 judges, and a set of unmet social and vocational demands, according to a statement by the Union of Magistrates (UoM) of which 7Dnews received a copy.
The UoM said its members had held an emergency session to discuss the latest developments affecting the judges. "The judges' decision (to reshuffle) the judges) has been made unilaterally by the MoJ behind closed doors, which is an infringement on the powers of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary,” according to the statement.
"Propagating in the media that the judges' reshuffle comes as part of an anti-corruption campaign is a claim that perpetuates fallacies, as the problem is deeper. It is unreasonable to address the imposing of judges and their families with random and reckless movements and riding roughshod over the judges' stability which is guaranteed by the constitution, international conventions of which Algeria has long been among the signatories as well as Articles 26 and 68 of the Basic Law of Judges."
The striking UoM members have demanded the immediate commencement of a freeze on annual transfers until they are re-established legally and objectively by the Supreme Council of the Judiciary with the involvement of UoM, the union said in a statement.
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