Egypt’s State Council Judges Club and the Administrative Prosecution Authority Judges Club each held meetings Sept. 14 to discuss changes from the tax authority that will increase income taxes on Egypt’s judges, a judicial source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

Counselor Mohamed Mahmoud Farag Hossam al-Din was sworn in on Sept. 16 before President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as a new chairman of the State Council.

The Egyptian Council of State’s General Assembly of Fatwa and Legislation Departments announced on Monday that a public servant cannot work under the direct chairmanship of a first degree relative, in accordance with the Civil Service Law no. 81 for 2016.

Member of Parliament Ehab al-Khouli has said he will propose legislative amendments to the State Council law so that it allows the appointment of women in the prestigious judicial body.

Fears are rising in Egypt over the Egyptian president appointment of top judges for the first time in the country’s modern history, criticism of the judiciary’s lack of independence is rampant.

The heads of two top judicial bodies were sworn in by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, the first in a series of anticipated appointments following the constitutional amendments passed in April that revised articles related to the judiciary and granted the president greater powers over the selection process.

On June 6, Parliament approved two laws that regulate how the heads of Egypt’s top judicial bodies are selected, granting the president greater powers over the appointment process. The laws were approved by a two-thirds majority.

The National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Tuesday that the referendum on a set of major constitutional amendments, which allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to remain in office until 2030, passed by 88.8 percent with a 44.3 percent turnout.

The State Security Emergency Court in Aswan on Sunday handed 25 Nubians conditional fines of up to EGP 50,000 over charges for organizing illegal protests in 2017, and acquitted seven Nubians, Al Masry Al Youm reports. The conditional fines ” would only be enforced if the defendants commit future crimes.”

Egypt has so far managed to keep its economic interests away from its foreign political disputes. Mostly.