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Egyptians Protest Mubarak Sentence

Jackie Mansky |
June 3, 2012 | 9:40 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Protests in Tahrir Square on 8 April 2011. (Hossam el-Hamalawy, Creative Commons)
Protests in Tahrir Square on 8 April 2011. (Hossam el-Hamalawy, Creative Commons)
Egyptians gathered at Tahrir Square Sunday to protest the decision that sentenced deposed President Hosni Mubarak to life in prison, rather than to death, while acquitting a number of top officials in his regime.

In the square, which was made famous by Arab Spring protestors last year, many decried the ruling, calling it illegitimate and demanding a retrial, Voice of America reported. Others in the square called for the end of the military council SCAF, which was put in charge of Egypt since Mubarak was overthrown last year, CNN reported.

The protests showed the dramatic change in mood many Egyptians felt that day.

Earlier that morning when the decision was first announced, families of those killed rejoiced. However, when the implications of the verdict became clearer, and the understanding that the verdict could be overturned, the joy turned to anger, Voice of America reported.

The judge said he came to his decision because while he found Mubarak guilty for failing to prevent deaths during the first week of the uprising, he was not directly responsible for those deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.

An Egyptian official speaking under the condition of anonymity said that a top prosecutor will appeal the verdict in Mubarak's trial Sunday, Haartez reported.

If that is the case, Haartez reported, that the prosecutor must appeal the entire verdict, which includes Mubarak's life sentence.

Saturday's decision could affect the upcoming election for voters who will choose who will succeed Mubarak, the New York Times reported. Voters will choose between Mohamed Morsi, who is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and Mubarak's last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq.

The outcome could hurt Shafik, through his association with Mubarak, the New York Times reported. 

To capitalize on this, Morsi has already toured the square and encouraged protestors to continue their sit-in BBC News reported.

"The best guarantee to reach our goals is for the revolution to continue," Morsi said.

However, the New York Times reported, if protests continue, it could help Shafik politically, because he is campaigning hard on a law-and-order message.

Already more than 100 people have been wounded in nationwide protests, BBC News reported.

Shafik went on the defensive on a Saturday press conference, stressing that justice will not be served if the Muslim Brotherhood gets power, Ahram Online reported.

"I will guarantee the rights of the martyrs, unlike the Brotherhood, which once called on victims’ families to accept blood money in exchange for abandoning their right to retribution," Shafiq said in the article.

Egyptian voters will make the decision between the two candidates June 16th and 17th.

Reach Executive Producer Jackie Mansky here.



 

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