---
"title": "Large Majority of Egyptians Put High Priority on Fair Courts"
"description": "About eight-in-ten Egyptians believe a fair judiciary is very important, making that one of the top priorities for the nation."
"date": "2012-11-27"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Bruce Drake"
    "job_title": "Former Senior Editor"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/bruce-drake/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2012/11/27/large-majority-of-egyptians-put-high-priority-on-fair-courts-2/"
---

# Large Majority of Egyptians Put High Priority on Fair Courts

News from Egypt has been dominated in recent days by the [controversy over President Mohamed Morsi’s decree](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/world/middleeast/egypts-president-said-to-limit-scope-of-judicial-decree.html?hp) limiting judicial review of his actions. A Pew Global Attitudes Project survey conducted March to April found a solid majority (81%) saying it was very important to live in a country with a fair judicial system — a number equaled only by those who say improved economic conditions are a top priority.

When it comes to key features of democracy that Egyptians believe are crucial to their country’s future, they also rated as very important a free press (62%), free speech (60%), and honest multiparty elections (58%).

Other key democratic rights and institutions, while considered at least somewhat important by a majority of Egyptians, do not register as top priorities. In particular, only 24% say that having a military that is under control of civilian leaders is very important. Less than half say that equal rights for women (41%), religious freedom for minorities (38%), and uncensored internet access (35%) are very important.

And while 67% of Egyptians agreed with the view that democracy was preferable to any other kind of government, maintaining law and order also ranked as an important priority with 60% saying this is very important for Egypt’s future. [Read more](pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/2012/05/08/egyptians-remain-optimistic-embrace-democracy-and-religion-in-political-life/).

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2012/11/16353.gif){.aligncenter width=400}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/2012/05/08/egyptians-remain-optimistic-embrace-democracy-and-religion-in-political-life/)