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Egypt’s Mubarak wants to go free, appeals his detention

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mubarak on stretcherDeposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who faces charges involving the killing of nonviolent protesters during the uprising that brought him down, wants to go free.

On Monday, a day after a judge scuttled Mubarak’s scheduled retrial, his lawyers petitioned an appeals court to release him, Egypt’s semiofficial Ahram News Agency reported.

Egyptian law allows the justice system to detain prisoners for just two years pending trial, but courts may extend remand detention for short periods of time.

Because of legal technicalities, Mubarak’s two years of remand recently ran out, but it was extend Sunday for 15 days.

At the onset of his scheduled retrial Sunday, the judge recused himself and walked out, leaving the court without leadership. He did not extend Mubarak’s detention.

A lawyer representing families of some of those killed in the 2011 uprising says he believes the appeals court will keep Mubarak behind bars.

The judge will probably hold Mubarak because of newer corruption charges against him that have been added to the older allegations, said attorney Gamal Eid.

Judge walkout Sunday

A crowd of onlookers in the courtroom Sunday erupted in jeers when judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah stood up to leave the court after recusing himself. Police stepped in between the angrily gesturing crowd and the judge’s bench.

Mubarak, who had arrived on a stretcher at the country’s Police Academy in Cairo for the first day of his retrial, was quickly loaded back onto a helicopter, which flew him back to a military hospital.

He had appeared relaxed in court, where he lay on a gurney inside a cage, where incarcerated defendants are customarily held during trial in Egypt. He waved to the audience in the court multiple times.

Abdullah quit the case over a medical condition, Mubarak lawyer Farid El Deeb told CNN. But in announcing his departure, the judge also said he felt undue pressure in his position as magistrate.

Abdullah “submitted a medical report to the head of Cairo Cassation Court stating that he has medical problems with his eyes,” El Deeb said. Egyptian law requires a judge to recuse himself publicly.

A lawyer for the families of those killed said he believed the judge held a legal bias in the case but also corroborated the medical reason for the judge’s move. “There was also news that he had medical issues related to his eyes,” Khaled Abu Bakr said.

Bakr and El Deeb told CNN that the court of appeals has 60 days to appoint a replacement judge. Mubarak is to remain in custody at a hospital, El Deeb said.

Mubarak faces charges related to the killing of peaceful protesters during the Arab Spring uprising that led to his ouster in February 2011.

Protesters

Dozens of relatives of those killed in Egypt’s demonstrations gathered outside the court, state-run Nile TV reported. They were joined by hundreds of pro-Mubarak activists carrying signs of support.

Galal Faisal Ali, whose brother Naser was killed in the uprising, said he fears Mubarak will be found innocent.

“The government is not giving us the moral support we need, and they’re allowing this circus of a trial to continue. We were hoping for a death sentence, but the way it’s going, we may see Mubarak free, and his sons free, which means my brother died for nothing,” he said.

Magdi Fouda, the main organizer of the pro-Mubarak protest, is a member of a group called “We are sorry, Mr. President.” She was joined by a second group called “Sons of Mubarak.”

“We are sure Mubarak will be pronounced innocent,” she said.

State security forces formed a barrier between the opposing protesters.

Emotions ran high at Mubarak’s original trial in 2012, resulting in scuffles between the two sides inside the courtroom and rioting outside.

The accusations

Mubarak’s two sons, six of his security aides and his former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, all face trial with him. The other defendants had also appeared at the criminal court inside the academy, state TV reported.

In addition to the charges related to the killings, all face charges of financial corruption and abuse of power.

Mubarak and al-Adly were both found guilty in the original trial and sentenced to life in prison, but they entered an appeal, which the court accepted. It resulted in the retrial.

Prosecutors have added an additional corruption charge that was not part of the original trial. Mubarak is accused of selling natural gas to neighboring Israel for prices below fair market value.

Morsy pleased about second trial

Essam El-Erian, a senior adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy, said in January that the government looked forward to a second trial.

“God willed the retrial would take place under Morsy’s rule, with new evidence and new defendants,” El-Erian said.

Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 30 years with the help of the military, was found guilty in June 2012 of ordering the killing of protesters and was immediately transferred to Tora prison in Cairo to serve his life sentence.

The 84-year-old has suffered a range of physical problems since he was driven from office in 2011, following weeks of protests by Egyptians demanding more freedom and reforms.

In December, Mubarak was transferred to a military hospital after suffering a head injury and a bruised chest when he slipped in a prison hospital bathroom, Egyptian state-run media reported.

CNN

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4 responses to “Egypt’s Mubarak wants to go free, appeals his detention”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Had to look that one up .. ‘Recuse’ … (American/S.African orig) verb: excuse oneself from a case due to lack of impartiality. NOT the same meaning as ‘Recusant’.
    Sounds like slang. I think they meant to say ‘Rescue’ and fouled it up. But I can see a judge wanting to rescue himself from this stupidity. After this amount of time, and considering Mubarak’s condition, just stick him in a garden somewhere and let him contemplate the end of life.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Had to look that one up .. ‘Recuse’ … (American/African orig) verb: excuse oneself from a case due to lack of impartiality. NOT the same meaning as ‘Recusant’.
    Sounds like slang. I think they meant to say ‘Rescue’ and fouled it up. But I can see a judge wanting to rescue himself from this stupidity. After this amount of time, and considering Mubarak’s condition, just stick him in a garden somewhere and let him contemplate the end of life.

  3. Btru2u Avatar
    Btru2u

    Egypt’s President Morsi is the New American Stalwart in the Region

    Ever since assuming the office of the Presidency, Morsi has worked resolutely to portray himself as a moderate Islamist working independent of American influence for the betterment of Egypt and the region. But beneath the veneer of Islamic rhetoric surrounding his domestic and foreign policy actions, Morsi is no better than his predecessor Mubarak— the former gatekeeper of American interests in the region.

    On the domestic front Morsi can claim that the opposition has not allowed his government enough time to push through reforms that will address the Egypt’s battered economy, restore law and order, and improve the lives of the ordinary Egyptian people. This is despite the fact that such reforms are formulated under the auspices of IMF stipulations for Egypt’s government to revise its economic agenda in order to qualify for the $4.8 billion loan. IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said, “We understand the Egyptian authorities have been working on revising their economic program. And once this step is completed, we will discuss the timing of a possible mission to Cairo to assess the revised program.” The delay has prompted America’s rating agency Moody to downgrade Egypt’s credit worthiness. Thus America’s economic enslavement of Egypt continues via the IMF and Moody regardless of the claims made by Morsi’s government of following an independent economic policy.
    On the foreign policy front Morsi cannot conceal his pro-American credentials behind the wall of protestors, which include people from all walks of life. Morsi’s foreign policy is distinctively American and in many ways is more brutal than Mubarak’s era. On February 13th 2013, Egypt without warning flooded Gaza tunnels that are a life blood to the Palestinians living in concentration camp like conditions in Gaza, which for all intents and purposes is controlled by the cowardly Jewish state. The tunnels bring in everything from food and medicine to cement and iron, providing up to 75 percent of the goods to a population of 1.6 million people.
    An Egyptian security official in the Sinai told Reuters the campaign started five days ago. He said, “We are using water to close the tunnels by raising water from one of the wells.” Hamas has been reluctant to criticise Morsi in public, but Gazan’s are more outspoken about the Hamas’s naivety and Morsi’s brutality. “Egyptian measures against tunnels have worsened since the election of Morsi. Our Hamas brothers thought he would open up Gaza. I guess they were wrong,” said a tunnel owner, who identified himself only as Ayed, fearing reprisal. ”Perhaps 150 or 200 tunnels have been shut since the Sinai attack. This is the Morsi era,” he added.
    So Morsi’s government has used the attacks on Egyptian forces in Sinai in August 2012 to spearhead a ruthless campaign to close as many tunnels as possible and bolster the security of the Jewish state ahead of the much anticipated resumption of the dormant peace process. With Palestinian unity talks planned in the days ahead, Netanyahu weakened by the recent elections and Obama scheduled to visit the Jewish state in March 2013, Washington is keen to create the right atmosphere to give a vital push for peace between the Arabs and the Jewish state. Central to the commencement of peace talks is the security of the Jewish state, and Morsi like his predecessor is doing his utmost to meet American and Jewish expectations. Nonetheless, the timing of the recent operation is intended to mollify Jewish criticism of America’s delivery of four F16 aircraft to the Egyptian air force.
    Likewise, Morsi’s close ties with Iran to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria that preserves remnants of Assad’s regime bears the hallmark of America’s intended solution. America has been working tirelessly with Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Gulf countries as well as with the EU and Russia to protect Assad’s regime in some form through a variety of initiatives the latest being the Brahimi Plan This will ensure the continuation of her hegemony over the Levant. Within this context Morsi visited Tehran in September 2012 and spoke of Iran as a pivotal stakeholder in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis. He said, “[Iran] a main player in the region that could have an active and supportive role in solving the Syrian problem… I don’t see the presence of Iran in this quartet (Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia) as a problem, but is a part of solving the problem.” This also explains why Morsi a few days ago warmly greeted Ahmadinejad the butcher of Syria. His treatment of the Iranian president attracted the ire of some of Morsi’s close supporters such as Daawa Salafiyya which issued a statement: “Egypt is committed to the protection of all Sunni nations.” Hence within a space of a few months Morsi has manage to surpass Mubarak and do what his predecessor failed to do i.e. forge a working relationship with Iran to safeguard America’s interests in the Levant.
    America is mightily pleased with the domestic and foreign policy actions undertaken by Morsi’s government. On February 3rd 2013 U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson said, “We look to Egypt to continue to serve as a force for peace, security and leadership as the Middle East proceeds with its challenging yet essential journey towards democracy.”
    There are important lessons for Egyptians to learn from Morsi’s rule. First, by simply calling for the ouster of a brutal dictator only to be replaced by someone who overtly expresses his faith in Islam is a folly of enormous proportions and will not change the plight of the people. Second, the real cause of misery for Egyptians is the current system through which America continues to colonise the country. Unless the system is eradicated from its roots people will continue to suffer under America’s colonial policies implemented by her loyalists in the present regime—be they Islamists or liberals. Third, the only alternative to the present decadent system is the Islamic Sharia, and not Western liberal democracy as advocated by the short-sighted liberals. Western liberal democracy along with capitalism is dying and even people in the West are eagerly looking for an alternative system. But for Islamic Sharia to succeed it has to be implemented holistically not in a piece meal fashion as championed by Muslim brotherhood and its supporters. Fourthly, the only practical way to realise the implementation of the Sharia in domestic and foreign policy areas is through the re-establishment of the Caliphate. Only the Caliphate can guarantee an independent economic and foreign policy free from Western interference

  4. Btru2u Avatar
    Btru2u

    Egypt’s President Morsi is the New American Stalwart in the Region

    Ever since assuming the office of the Presidency, Morsi has worked resolutely to portray himself as a moderate Islamist working independent of American influence for the betterment of Egypt and the region. But beneath the veneer of Islamic rhetoric surrounding his domestic and foreign policy actions, Morsi is no better than his predecessor Mubarak— the former gatekeeper of American interests in the region.

    On the domestic front Morsi can claim that the opposition has not allowed his government enough time to push through reforms that will address the Egypt’s battered economy, restore law and order, and improve the lives of the ordinary Egyptian people. This is despite the fact that such reforms are formulated under the auspices of IMF stipulations for Egypt’s government to revise its economic agenda in order to qualify for the $4.8 billion loan. IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said, “We understand the Egyptian authorities have been working on revising their economic program. And once this step is completed, we will discuss the timing of a possible mission to Cairo to assess the revised program.” The delay has prompted America’s rating agency Moody to downgrade Egypt’s credit worthiness. Thus America’s economic enslavement of Egypt continues via the IMF and Moody regardless of the claims made by Morsi’s government of following an independent economic policy.
    On the foreign policy front Morsi cannot conceal his pro-American credentials behind the wall of protestors, which include people from all walks of life. Morsi’s foreign policy is distinctively American and in many ways is more brutal than Mubarak’s era. On February 13th 2013, Egypt without warning flooded Gaza tunnels that are a life blood to the Palestinians living in concentration camp like conditions in Gaza, which for all intents and purposes is controlled by the cowardly Jewish state. The tunnels bring in everything from food and medicine to cement and iron, providing up to 75 percent of the goods to a population of 1.6 million people.
    An Egyptian security official in the Sinai told Reuters the campaign started five days ago. He said, “We are using water to close the tunnels by raising water from one of the wells.” Hamas has been reluctant to criticise Morsi in public, but Gazan’s are more outspoken about the Hamas’s naivety and Morsi’s brutality. “Egyptian measures against tunnels have worsened since the election of Morsi. Our Hamas brothers thought he would open up Gaza. I guess they were wrong,” said a tunnel owner, who identified himself only as Ayed, fearing reprisal. ”Perhaps 150 or 200 tunnels have been shut since the Sinai attack. This is the Morsi era,” he added.
    So Morsi’s government has used the attacks on Egyptian forces in Sinai in August 2012 to spearhead a ruthless campaign to close as many tunnels as possible and bolster the security of the Jewish state ahead of the much anticipated resumption of the dormant peace process. With Palestinian unity talks planned in the days ahead, Netanyahu weakened by the recent elections and Obama scheduled to visit the Jewish state in March 2013, Washington is keen to create the right atmosphere to give a vital push for peace between the Arabs and the Jewish state. Central to the commencement of peace talks is the security of the Jewish state, and Morsi like his predecessor is doing his utmost to meet American and Jewish expectations. Nonetheless, the timing of the recent operation is intended to mollify Jewish criticism of America’s delivery of four F16 aircraft to the Egyptian air force.
    Likewise, Morsi’s close ties with Iran to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria that preserves remnants of Assad’s regime bears the hallmark of America’s intended solution. America has been working tirelessly with Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Gulf countries as well as with the EU and Russia to protect Assad’s regime in some form through a variety of initiatives the latest being the Brahimi Plan This will ensure the continuation of her hegemony over the Levant. Within this context Morsi visited Tehran in September 2012 and spoke of Iran as a pivotal stakeholder in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis. He said, “[Iran] a main player in the region that could have an active and supportive role in solving the Syrian problem… I don’t see the presence of Iran in this quartet (Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia) as a problem, but is a part of solving the problem.” This also explains why Morsi a few days ago warmly greeted Ahmadinejad the butcher of Syria. His treatment of the Iranian president attracted the ire of some of Morsi’s close supporters such as Daawa Salafiyya which issued a statement: “Egypt is committed to the protection of all Sunni nations.” Hence within a space of a few months Morsi has manage to surpass Mubarak and do what his predecessor failed to do i.e. forge a working relationship with Iran to safeguard America’s interests in the Levant.
    America is mightily pleased with the domestic and foreign policy actions undertaken by Morsi’s government. On February 3rd 2013 U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson said, “We look to Egypt to continue to serve as a force for peace, security and leadership as the Middle East proceeds with its challenging yet essential journey towards democracy.”
    There are important lessons for Egyptians to learn from Morsi’s rule. First, by simply calling for the ouster of a brutal dictator only to be replaced by someone who overtly expresses his faith in Islam is a folly of enormous proportions and will not change the plight of the people. Second, the real cause of misery for Egyptians is the current system through which America continues to colonise the country. Unless the system is eradicated from its roots people will continue to suffer under America’s colonial policies implemented by her loyalists in the present regime—be they Islamists or liberals. Third, the only alternative to the present decadent system is the Islamic Sharia, and not Western liberal democracy as advocated by the short-sighted liberals. Western liberal democracy along with capitalism is dying and even people in the West are eagerly looking for an alternative system. But for Islamic Sharia to succeed it has to be implemented holistically not in a piece meal fashion as championed by Muslim brotherhood and its supporters. Fourthly, the only practical way to realise the implementation of the Sharia in domestic and foreign policy areas is through the re-establishment of the Caliphate. Only the Caliphate can guarantee an independent economic and foreign policy free from Western interference

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