Egypt: Ruling upheld banning new political parties

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Egyptian high court on Saturday upheld rulings rejecting the legalization of several political parties amid protests by opposition activists and human rights groups. The Supreme Administrative Court rejected the appeals of 13 political groups whose applications were first rejected by the Political Parties Committee, a state-agency that authorizes parties, judicial officials said. In his ruling, Judge Seyed Nawfal said the would-be parties were not qualified for legalization, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.