An Egyptian court on June 2 found former president Hosni Mubarak guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during last year's uprising and sentenced him to life in prison. The court also found former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli guilty of the same charge and sentenced him to a life term. But corruption charges were dropped against Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal. And six senior security officials, including former head of the now-disbanded State Security Investigations service (SSI), were acquitted. During the protests that resulted in the overturning of his 33-year regime, Mubarak ordered government officials to use gunfire and other violent measures to subdue demonstrations, resulting in some 850 deaths. Mubarak's 10-month trial marks the first time a former Arab leader has been held accountable for his actions in a court of law.
But Amnesty International released a statement criticizing the verdict as failing to deliver full justice because Mubarak's sons and security officials were not punished for their alleged participation in the violence. Human Rights Watch also commented on Mubarak's sentence, believing the verdict sends a message to future Egyptian leaders that they are not immune from the law. (Jurist, June 2)
Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Cairo and other cities to vent their anger at the weak verdicts, with protests continuing a second night June 2. Mohamed Mursi, presidential candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, stood with the protesters and pledged to press new charges against Mubarak if he elected. Egypt's ruling military government said it would appeal the verdicts. (NYT, June 3)
See our last posts on Egypt and the Arab revolutions.
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Tahrir Square occupied again
Thousands poured into Tahrir Square again June 5 to protest the acquittal of Mubarak’s security chiefs, and (according to media accounts, e.g. IOL) the fact that the deposed strongman did not get the death penalty. We oppose capital punishment under any circumstances, but we are glad to see the kids taking the square again—and especially their demand that candidate Ahmed Shafiq be disqualified as a member of Mubarak’s old guard. “No to Mursi, no to Shafiq, the revolution is halfway through,” read one placard. Some protesters are apparently calling for a boycott of the vote.
Egypt court sentences ex-PM to three years
An Egyptian court on Sept. 13 sentenced former Egyptian prime minister Ahmed Nazif to three years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption charges. Nazif was accused of embezzling $10.5 million while in office. This most recent conviction will add to a previous corruption conviction in which he was found to have illegally profited from a license plate agreement with a German business partner. Nazif served as prime minister under ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak from 2004 until 2011. He left office just before the 2011 uprising and was replaced by Ahmed Shafiq, who is also facing corruption charges associated with his time in office.
From Jurist, Sept. 14. Used with permission.
Egypt court sentences ex-minister to three years
A court in Giza, Egypt, on Feb. 1 sentenced former interior minister Habib el-Adly to three years in prison for abusing his position by forcing public officials to work on his home and property, which the court found was an illegal use of labor. El-Adly, who worked as the head of security for former president Hosni Mubarak, was also fined 2.3 million Egyptian pounds (USD $342,000) by the court. El-Adly was sentenced to life in prison last June for ordering the killing of anti-government protesters during the 2011 Egyptian revolution that led to the overthrow of Mubarak’s regime. It is unclear if el-Adly plans to appeal the ruling.
Last February the chief prosecutor in the case against Mubarak and el-Adly asked the presiding judge to give the death penalty to both men for their roles in the 2011 revolution. El-Adly was convicted on a different corruption charge in July 2011 related to granting a no-bid contract to a German businessman to sell license plates in Egypt. The deal wasted USD $15 million of public funds by paying more for the plates than market price. El-Adly was sentenced to five years in prison and fined nearly USD $17 million.
From Jurist, Feb. 2. Used with permission.
Egypt court acquits ex-interior minister of corruption charges
An Egyptian court on June 12 acquitted Habib el-Adly, Egypt's former interior minister and head of security services under former president Hosni Mubarak], of certain corruption charges on which he was convicted in 2011. Specifically, el-Adly was cleared of charges that he ordered police officials to find prospective top-paying buyers for land he personally owned. The acquittal came as a result of a retrial, ordered by an appellate court, of el-Adly's 2011 conviction that sentenced him to twelve years in jail. El-Adly was also sentenced to life in prison in 2012, along with Mubarak, for the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising in Egypt. Those charges were overturned, however, on technical grounds. Despite his acquittal this week, El-Adly will remain in jail based on earlier convictions and potential future charges.
From Jurist, June 14. Used with permission.