Egypt’s Justice Minister Resigns After Saying Sons of Garbage Collectors Cannot Be Judges

Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb has announced the resignation of Justice Minister Mahfouz Saber. The Prime Minister said the resignation was ‘in response to public opinion.’

The Minister of Justice had stirred controversy across Egypt after declaring that children of garbage collectors cannot become judges as they must grow up in a “respectable” environment.

During a live television interview, the Minister of Justice answered a question regarding the Justice Ministry’s employment criteria.

“With all due respect to the garbage collector, and anyone else beneath him or above him, it is necessary for the environmental medium where a judge grows to be suitable,”said the Justice Minister.

“A judge has his highness and position, he must come from a respectable medium, both financially and morally.”

The Minister added that if a garbage collector would be hired as a judge, he would suffer from depression and other issues. The Minister, who said this statement is based on prior experience, did not clarify what ‘issues’ he was referring to.

Asked whether this means the garbage collector and his children are deprived of employment, the Minister said the they would find a job that is suited to them.

Following the statements, Egyptians had taken to social media to call for the resignation of the Justice Minister. On Twitter, the top trending hashtag in Egypt called for the Minister to be replaced.

Subscribe to our newsletter