Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Sunday issued presidential decree to appoint three deputies to the chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC).

Egyptian Supreme Judicial Council on Tuesday has chosen to resume judiciary work for the Court of Cassation, appeal courts and first instance and specialized courts starting Saturday, May 16.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi revealed that he had urged Adly Mansour, the former interim president, during his one year in office, to run 2014 presidential election, but the latter had refused.

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.

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.

: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi appointed Judge Saeed Marie as head of the Supreme Constitutional Court to succeed former Head Hanafi Ali al-Jibali, granting him a rank of minister.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi swore in the heads of two top judicial bodies over the weekend following constitutional amendments passed in April that granted the president increased power over the selection process allegedly as part of his ongoing fight against terrorism.

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.

As protests spread across the Arab world in 2011, Egypt became a beacon of hope in the region. But this glimmer of light quickly dimmed, rights groups say, pointing to a widespread crackdown on dissent, with recent constitutional amendments only deepening the country’s human rights woes.

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.