Since the news got out that the Egyptian court voided the transfer of the Red Sea islands – Tiran and Sanafir – to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, people have been going crazy on social media, especially in light of the previous heated debate over whether the islands were indeed Egyptian or not.
Even though to most people, the true story of the islands Tiran and Sanafir isn't absolutely clear and the issue is a lot deeper and more complicated than a simple for-or-against debate, everyone seems to be quite polarized on the topic. Do you doubt the presidential decision to cede control of the islands, or do you doubt the legitimacy of the country's judiciary?
Adding fuel to the fire, there's also the issue that a group of Egyptian rights lawyers filed a lawsuit arguing that President Sisi, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Al had wrongfully relinquished Egypt’s rights over the two islands. One of the lawyers who co-filed the lawsuit, Malek Adly, has been detained since late April over spreading false rumors and inciting protests against the agreement.
Judge Yehia El-Dakroury declared that Egypt’s maritime border would not be redrawn, meaning that the islands would remain under Egyptian sovereignty.
And Egyptians took to social media to highlight the polarizing decision.
"The islands are Egyptian, before the court ruling, after it, with it, and without it."
"Well auntie, this means that either the islands are Egyptian, or the judiciary isn't dignified.. which are you picking?"
"The Pro-Sisi-ers after the Administrative Judiciary's ruling that Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian, and cancelling the reservation on Abu Treika's funds."
"I wonder where's the catch with the court ruling that Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian?"
And because there's a great lack of understanding of judiciary proceedings, it makes it easy to come up with conspiracy theories...
"Steps for judicial enticement: 1- You are led to believe in the rule of law, and the judiciary as the patrons of the truth. 2- The issuance of a court ruling in favor of your demands, so you would cheer for justice being served, and for the esteemed Egyptian judiciary. 3- An appeal is submitted against the former court ruling. 4- The appeal overrides the previous ruling and the final verdict is taken, to your disfavor, and at that moment you will not be able to say the ruling was unfair just because it went against your preference.
A very sly scenario that has been used in the trials of Mubarak and his men, and in the case of exporting Egyptian gas, and others.
You have been tricked and you accepted the rules of the game, which they own."