#️⃣ Part Two
Undermining the Last Refuge: The Interim Injunction and the Attempt to Correct Course
This is where the role of the Federal Supreme Court emerged as the “last refuge” that efforts were made to bring under control.
On February 4, 2025, the Court issued an interim injunction suspending implementation of the three laws, in response to constitutional challenges submitted by a number of MPs.
The order represented an attempt to correct a legislative process marred by controversy — but the response came quickly.
The following day, February 5, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Council, chaired by Judge Faiq Zidan, held its fourth session and concluded that the interim injunction was “without subject matter” because it concerned laws that had not yet been published in the Official Gazette. ❗️
The Council also stressed that
“the courts are obliged to apply the General Amnesty Law passed by the Council of Representatives.”
This position amounted to direct institutional pressure on the Federal Supreme Court.
Only one week later, on February 11, 2025, the Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling revoking its own interim injunction and rejecting the challenges submitted by the MPs.
As a result, the three laws returned to the path of implementation after the Supreme Judicial Council intervened and effectively neutralized the interim order.
Mass Resignations and the Retirement of the Federal Supreme Court President
The crisis surrounding the “single-basket laws” in January 2025 became the first major arena exposing the extent of the clash between the political blocs and parliament on one side, and the Federal Supreme Court on the other.
It also paved the way, only a few months later, for mounting pressures that ultimately led to the removal of Jassim Mohammed Abboud and the restructuring of the judicial landscape in a way that strengthened the influence of the Supreme Judicial Council.
On June 19, 2025, nine Federal Supreme Court judges — six permanent members and three alternates — submitted their resignations collectively, protesting what they described as
“the manner in which the Court is generally managed, and in particular how sessions are conducted and decisions are taken.”
The resignations also came amid disputes with the Court’s president, Judge Jassim Mohammed Abboud, over his refusal to comply with directives from the Supreme Judicial Council.
Then, on June 29, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Council approved Abboud’s retirement “for health reasons” and nominated Judge Munther Ibrahim Hussein to replace him.
However, that decision raised a serious legal controversy, because Federal Supreme Court Law No. 30 of 2005 does not grant the president of the Supreme Judicial Council the authority to retire the president of the Federal Supreme Court.
A few days later, the remaining judges withdrew their resignations and returned to work following a meeting chaired by Judge Zidan.
This marked the beginning of the presidency of Judge Munther Ibrahim Hussein, who is considered closer to the orientation of the Supreme Judicial Council.