CAIRO, Mar 28 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's disciplinary board of judges dismissed 33 judges for engaging in political activity, forcing them into retirement on Monday. 

The judges had signed the "Rabaa statement", showing support for former president Mohamed Mursi, who was ousted by the military in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

The disciplinary board acquitted 22 other judges of the same charges. Today's decision is final and not subject to appeal.

In October 2014, Judge Mohamed Shereen referred 60 judges to the disciplinary board accusing them of signing a statement supporting Mursi, during the pro-Mursi Rabaa al-Adawiya camp which lasted weeks until it was forcibly dispersed in August 2013. 

Judge Hassan Yassin, who is one of the judges forced into retirement today, stated that he and other judges would appeal the verdict in front of the Court of Cassation.  

Yassin added that the amendments to the judiciary law permit appealing today's decision to dismiss the judges.

Last week, the disciplinary board of judges forced into retirement 15 judges also for engaging in political activity and founding the "Judges for Egypt" which also declared support for Mursi.  

The state says the judges implicated in those cases have violated article 73 of the judiciary law and that the acts they have engaged in, constitute as involvement in politics.

Egyptian law stipulates that judges referred to disciplinary courts continue to carry out their work normally until the Supreme Judicial Council approves of their dismissal.