Hosni Mubarak Release Sparks Protests in Egypt

The release this week of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak from prison has sparked protests at universities across Egypt after a Cairo court decided to drop murder charges against the former president on Saturday. He was being tried for the murder of protesters in the 2011 uprising that removed him from power. Students shouted “fall of the regime,” the rallying call that united them during the 2011 uprising that ended his 30-year rule. The protesters feel that gains made following his removal from power are being eroded.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters on Saturday as they attempted to march to Tahrir Square, the central meeting place for protests in 2011. Law enforcement officials said two people were killed and nine wounded. Cairo’s metro station was closed to prevent protesters from gathering. Al Ahram, a state-owned newspaper, reported that 11 students were arrested at Zagazig University after they set a building on fire.

Protesters assembled at Cairo University waving pictures showing Mubarak in jail. The police manned the gates to ensure that the students did not march in to the streets. Judge Mahmod Kamel Al-Rashidi said Mubarak’s release did not mean that he was innocent of the charges leveled against him, but his age should have been considered before charging him for the offences.

His removal from power led to free elections. Mohamed Morsi was elected as president. He was toppled by the army after he oversaw the writing of a new constitution that was heavily bent towards the principles embraced by the Muslim Brotherhood. He was toppled by the army under Abdel Fatah Al-Sis, who went on to win the elections that were held in May last year.

Protesters said people who served under Hosni Mubarak have been released from prison. They said that the current leaders are engaged in revenge against those who fought to remove him from power.These sentiments have led to frustrations that have sparked protests following Hosni Mubarak’s release from jail in Egypt.

Some protesters posted an animated video on the internet showing Mubarak and his supporters getting out of prison yelling that they are back. A post on Facebook also called upon Egyptians to protest the ruling.

During the court session, the judge advised journalists to read the 1,430-page before commenting on the verdict. Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal were also acquitted of the murder charges. His children and co-defendant cheered when the judge announced the acquittal. His supporters also lit firecrackers outside the hospital where he is being held under house arrest. Mubarak’s top attorney, Farid Dib, was quoted by Al Arabiya TV saying that since he has been in prison for more than three years, he will be released soon.

Mubarak was being retried for the murder of 239 protesters during the 2011 uprising. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2012, but the verdict was overturned in 2013, leading to the current trial. The current president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was handpicked by Mubarak to head Egypt’s military intelligence wing during rule. Some protesters said the political connection between current leaders that served in Hosni Mubarak’s government may have played a role in his release that has sparked the current protests in Egypt.

By Benedicto Ateku

Sources:
Voice of America
Chicago Tribune
The Wall Street Journal

Photo image courtesy of World Economic Forum Flickr License