Egypt's ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest | Las Vegas Review-Journal Egypt's ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest Egypt&rsquo;s ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest A supporter of Egypts deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak holds a poster of him and chants slogans in front of Tora prison, where Mubarak has been held, in Cairo. Egypt&rsquo;s ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest A supporter of Egypts deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak holds a poster of him and chants slogans in front of Tora prison. Egypt&rsquo;s ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest Supporters of Egypts deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak chant slogans in front of Tora prison where he is held, in Cairo. Egypt&rsquo;s ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest Supporters of Egypts deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak chant slogans in front of Tora prison where he is held, in Cairo. Egypt&rsquo;s ousted leader Mubarak under house arrest Supporters of Egypts deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak chant slogans in front of Tora prison where he is held.

By SARAH EL DEEB THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CAIRO — Wearing a white T-shirt and flashing a smile, Hosni Mubarak was transferred from prison Thursday to a Nile-side military hospital where he will be under house arrest, a reversal of fortune for the former president who was ousted by a popular uprising and is on trial for complicity in the killing of protesters in 2011. The release of the 85-year-old Mubarak comes amid a sweeping crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood, which rose to power after the revolution only to see their Islamist president toppled by a military coup last month. The latest twist of Mubarak’s fate mirrored the country’s rocky transition, with the longtime autocrat released from prison even as his democratically elected successor remained jailed at an undisclosed location. The release threatened to stoke tensions in the deeply divided country, reeling from violence and the unsettled politics that followed the military coup against Mohammed Morsi. Many feared the decision to let Mubarak out of prison at such a tense time would serve as a rallying cry for Morsi’s supporters against the country’s interim leaders.

But there was little immediate reaction from the pro-Morsi camp, which called for street protests Friday against the July 3 coup, despite a sweeping arrest campaign that has seen hundreds of its leaders imprisoned. On Thursday, nearly 80 Brotherhood members were taken into custody, including the group’s spokesman, Ahmed Aref. Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi ordered Mubarak placed under house arrest as part of emergency measures imposed last week after security forces forcibly dismantled two pro-Morsi protest camps, triggering a wave of violence that has killed more than 1,000 people. The decision came after anti-Morsi groups called on the interim leadership to use the emergency measures to keep Mubarak locked up, arguing that his release posed a threat to national security. The decision to place the ex-president under house arrest instead of letting him go free appeared designed to ease some of the criticism and to ensure that Mubarak is in court next week, where a retrial in the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising could place him back behind bars. He also is being investigated in at least two other corruption cases.

Footage on private TV stations showed the helicopter transporting Mubarak from Tora prison landing at a military hospital in the southern Cairo suburb of Maadi. Surrounded by armed troops in camouflage uniforms, he lay on a gurney, his hands grasping his head as he was placed in an ambulance for the short drive to the hospital. Wearing sunglasses, a white T-shirt, khakis and white loafers, the former leader smiled briefly before disappearing inside the vehicle. As the ambulance drove away, guards, some with their guns drawn, ran after it, apparently fearing it might be targeted for attack. A short time later, about two dozen protesters gathered on one of Cairo’s main flyovers near Tahrir square, the epicenter of the protests that forced Mubarak from office. Wrapped in white shrouds and smeared with red paint representing the blood of those killed by security forces, they acted out a mock trial for the former leader. “We demand the retrial of the killers of the revolutionaries,” read a banner hung nearby. Another called for Mubarak, Morsi and military leaders to be tried in revolutionary courts.

Ibrahim Tamim, a member of the April 6 youth group that helped spearhead the uprising against Mubarak, said the mock trial was a reminder that retribution for victims of the uprising had not been realized and that people should not celebrate Mubarak’s release or Morsi’s fall. “We are trying to remind people that the failure of the Muslim Brotherhood regime does not make Mubarak’s regime good,” said Tamim, wearing a face mask of one of the victims of the uprising. Another youth group planned a rally Friday outside the country’s high court to protest Mubarak’s release. Activists and rights groups said the release is a reminder that none of the judicial reforms demanded by those who led the popular revolts against Mubarak and Morsi have been enacted. Most of the regime officials, including Mubarak, tried for the killing of hundreds of protesters in the early days of the uprising have been released, as lawyers cited shoddy procedures and weak prosecutions and court cases. Mubarak was held for several weeks of his two-year detention at the same military hospital where he is now under house arrest. His lawyers cited bad conditions in the prison facilities and prison authorities renovated the ward where he was later kept.

Security officials said authorities wanted Mubarak taken to the International Medical Center, a military facility on the desert road between Cairo and the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, because it is easier for police to protect due to its distance away from crowded areas. But Mubarak insisted that he stay at the military hospital in Maadi because he was comfortable with the medical staff there, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Since his ouster, Mubarak’s supporters have released conflicting details about his health, including that he suffered a stroke, a heart attack and at times went into a coma. His critics called these an attempt to gain public sympathy and court leniency. His wife, Suzanne, has been living in Cairo and keeping a low-profile, occasionally visiting Mubarak and their two sons in prison. Outside the prison where Mubarak was held, a few dozen of his supporters gathered to celebrate his release. “I am here to sincerely wish and congratulate our president, Hosni Mubarak, because without him we are truly nothing,” said Mostafa Mohsein, a supporter who was among a dozen who raised Mubarak’s pictures and chanted outside Tora prison.

“From the day that he left us, the country has been completely lost. We can’t work or do anything. The country is in a state of decline.” Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released - NY Daily News Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released from prison, now under house arrest at nearby hospital Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released Supporters of the ousted leader rally Thursday in Cairo. (MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Thursday, August 22, 2013, 12:18 PM Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak was released from prison Thursday and transported to a military hospital in a Cairo suburb where he'll be held under house arrest. The 85-year-old, wearing a white shirt and loafers, flashed a smile for TV cameras after climbing down from the helicopter that brought him to the military hospital on the banks of the Nile. A supporter of Egypt's deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak holds a poster of him and chants slogans in front of Torah Prison, where Egypt's deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak has been held, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Aug. 22.

(Khalil Hamra/AP) He was immediately strapped to a gurney amid tight security and loaded into an ambulance for the quick trip across the street into the hospital. Hosni Mubarak was released Thursday from Torah Prison ahead of his trial. (Khalil Hamra/AP) Mubarak was moved Thursday after a court ordered his release in relation to charges of receiving gifts from a state-owned paper. Egyptian army soldiers guard Torah Prison, where Egypt's deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak is held, in Cairo, Egypt. (Khalil Hamra/AP) With the Arab nation already in unrest over the military coup against Morsi, the decision was made to move the former leader to the hospital and keep him under house arrest - in part to ensure that he appears in court next week to face other charges. Supporters unfurl a huge Egyptian flag outside of the prison where Hosni Mubarak was being held. (Khalil Hamra/AP) Egypt's Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi ordered Mubarak under house arrest as part of the emergency measures imposed this month after a wave of violence sparked by the ouster of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi, who had succeeded Mubarak as Egypt's first freely elected President.

Egyptian army soldiers guard Torah Prison, where Egypt’s deposed leader Hosni Mubarak has been held. (Khalil Hamra/AP) Footage obtained by local TV stations shows hospital guards, some with their handguns drawn, and soldiers trailing after Mubarak's ambulance, possibly for fear that the ex-president could be the target of an attack. A supporter of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak chants slogans in front of Torah prison where he is was being held. (Khalil Hamra/AP) The 85-year-old ousted leader still faces retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising against him, which could put him back behind bars. He also is being investigated in at least two other corruption cases. An Egyptian boy holds a large national flag Thursday in support of Hosni Mubarak. (Khalil Hamra/AP) The military hospital in the southern Maadi suburb is familiar to Mubarak. He was held there for several weeks of his two years' detention as he underwent medical check-ups. The deposed Egyptian leader has been imprisoned for two years since the Arab Spring.

(Khalil Hamra/AP) Since his ouster, Mubarak's supporters have released conflicting details about his health, including that he suffered a stroke, a heart attack and at times went into a coma. His critics called these an attempt to gain public sympathy and court leniency. His wife, Suzanne, has been living in Cairo and keeping a low-profile, occasionally visiting Mubarak and their two sons in prison. An Egyptian boy holds a large national flag at a gathering of supporters of Egypt's deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak, not seen, in front of Torah prison where he is held, in Cairo, Egypt.

(Khalil Hamra/AP) Ousted Egyptian Leader Mubarak Resumes Trial in Cairo | Fox News Ousted Egyptian Leader Mubarak Resumes Trial in Cairo Published December 28, 2011 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print Egyptian pro-Mubarak supporters flash his posters and a giant poster showing field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, at center, outside police academy court in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Sept.11, 2011 where Mubarak, his two sons Alaa and Gamal, his security chief Habib el-Adly and six top police officers face a session of trial, on charges they ordered the use of lethal force against protesters during Egypt's 18-day uprising killing 850 protesters were killed. Tantawi, Egypt's military ruler Tantawi and one-time confidant of Hosni Mubarak, has failed to attend a court session in which he was expected to offer highly anticipated testimony about the former president's alleged role in the death of protesters.

(AP2011) CAIRO – Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak was brought back to a Cairo's courtroom on Wednesday for the resumption of his trial after a three months' break. Mubarak has been charged with complicity in the deaths of nearly 840 protesters in the crackdown against a popular uprising, which forced him to step down on Feb. 11. He could face the death penalty if convicted but so far most of the testimonies, including from police officers, have distanced the former president from any orders to shoot at the protesters. Egyptian TV showed footage of the 83-year-old Mubarak, covered by a green blanket and lying on a hospital gurney as he was brought from a helicopter and taken to an ambulance for a short ride to the courthouse Wednesday . Mubarak has been under arrest in a hospital since April. The trial started in August, with many in the country riveted by the sight of their ailing former ruler of nearly 30 years lying in a hospital bed inside the courtroom's cage, where defendants traditionally sit during trials in Egypt.

During early sessions, the trial was bogged down by frequent commotion and arguments in the courtroom between the defense and the lawyers representing the protesters. It also became harder for media to cover the proceeding after the judge imposed a ban with high ranking Egyptian officials summoned to testify. In the last hearing in September, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads Egypt's ruling military council that took power after Mubarak's fall, gave his testimony under a total media blackout. Journalists were barred from the court and forbidden to report any leaked details of Tantawi's testimony. Many believe Tantawi -- who was Mubarak's defense minister for two decades -- can address key question of whether Mubarak ordered the use of lethal force against protesters. Next in line of witnesses whose testimony was demanded by both the prosecution and the defense is chief of staff Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Anan, the second-highest ranking official in the ruling military council. As the proceedings started Wednesday, it was not clear whether Annan will be testifying. Also on trial with Mubarak and facing the same charges are his former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly and six senior former security officials.

Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, also face corruption charges. The prosecution's case depends heavily on accounts of members of the former president's inner circle including ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman , who was appointed vice president by Mubarak during the uprising. Advertisement What does Hosni Mubarak acquittal mean for Egypt? – Channel 4 News A Cairo court ruled on Saturday that it did not have jurisdiction over what it judged to be politically motivated charges , and dismissed the case. Almost 900 protesters were killed in the 18-day Arab Spring uprising that ended when Mr Mubarak stepped down but the trial focused on the killing of 239 protesters. Mr Mubarak, his former interior minister and six others had been convicted of conspiracy to kill and were sentenced to life in prison in June 2012 , but a retrial was ordered last year. He was found guilty in May in another case related to theft of public funds and has been serving that three-year sentence while under house arrest for medical reasons in an army hospital near Cairo.

Egyptian-American journalist and fellow at the Nation Institute, Sharif Kouddous , (above) told Channel 4 News: “This ruling … is not so surprising. It’s difficult in this moment to have any hope for any kind of democratic transition. “Right now with this ruling the Egyptian court have not found anyone guilty for the killing of nearly 900 protesters.” Charges against seven of Mr Mubarak’s senior officials, including his interior minister, were also dropped. In a separate corruption case, charges were dropped against Mr Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal, with the judge saying too much time had elapsed since the alleged crime took place for the court to rule on the matter. But the 86-year-old will not yet walk free after the verdict. Anti-Mubarak protesters grieved and cried following the verdict: “There is no justice for the poor. This is Mubarak’s law.” said Ramadan Ahmed, whose son Mohammed was shot dead in Alexandria. However those celebrating accused the Muslim Brotherhood of the killings before praising Mr Mubarak. “No one could remove you. The Egyptian people all love you; from the youngest to the eldest; from the illiterate to the educated,” supporter Naema Mohamed said.

“We adore you. Of course, we agree. I hope God will help you prevail over your enemies. This is not a victory to yourself but a victory to Egypt and its sons.” The overthrow of Mr Mubarak , who ruled for about 30 years, led to Egypt’s first free election but the winner, Mohammed Morsi, was ousted last year by the army. The release of some Mubarak-era figures this year had already raised fears among activists that the old leadership was regaining influence. Egypt's Hosni Mubarak: following missteps of ousted Tunisian leader? Egypt's Hosni Mubarak: following missteps of ousted Tunisian leader? By Kristen Chick Pin it Share Tunisia’s deposed President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali seemingly provided the Arab world a textbook in what not to do to avoid being ousted. Yet instead of avoiding Mr. Ben Ali's missteps, observers say, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak appears to be taking pages from his playbook. “I don’t think Mubarak learned anything from the Tunisian case,” says Mustapha Kamel El Sayyid, political science professor at the American University in Cairo.

In both countries, uncontrollable protests only worsened when police tried to forcefully restrain them; police pulled back and an ensuing security vacuum prompted neighborhood residents to patrol their streets to protect their property; and people gave a joyous welcome to the Army when it stepped in to secure streets. IN PICTURES: Egyptian protests The similarities in the responses may not bode well for the Egyptian leader, or for the United States. While Tunisia’s revolution was a wakeup call to the Arab world and the West, the toppling of Mubarak, America’s most stalwart ally in the Middle East and leader of the most populous Arab country, would have far wider consequences for the region. Similar roots of unrest, anger at police The revolution in Tunisia was sparked by widespread anger not only over rising unemployment and increasingly difficult living circumstances, but the ruling family’s flagrant corruption and the government’s crushing repression. In Egypt, protesters as well have combined economic grievances with a stronger call for freedom and an end to the 30-year-rule of their autocrat. The Egyptian protests are moving somewhat faster than in Tunisia, perhaps thanks to the example of the nation whose population is a little over half the size of Egypt’s capital, Cairo.

While in Tunisia the demonstrations began as a protest against the government and did not, until the end, coalesce into clear calls for Ben Ali to leave, signs saying “Down with Mubarak” and “Mubarak out” have been a fixture at Egyptian demonstrations since the first one on Jan. 25. As the demonstrations got bigger, police in both nations used force to try to put them down, in what Sayyid says was a key factor in pushing demonstrators over the edge. Protesters fought police, welcomed Army Tunisia’s Army did not step in to restore order on the streets until after Ben Ali’s departure. Egypt’s military began patrolling the capital after protesters overwhelmed police on Friday. But in both cases, the people welcomed the military with cheers, hugs, and flowers. The internal security apparatuses of both nations have earned the hatred of the populations after decades of being used to suppress them. Torture at the hands of police is common in Tunisia and Egypt. The militaries of both nations, on the other hand, have not been used in domestic repression and are seen as professional.

The scenes of Egyptians taking photos of their children with Egyptian Army officers in front of their tanks are almost exact replicas of the scenes that played out over and over again in Tunisia the week before last. And when police retreated in both countries, unleashing chaos in the form of looting and violence, residents formed informal neighborhood watch committees to protect their property and families. Even the predominant weapons they used were the same: makeshift sticks and clubs. Mubarak's speech echoes Ben Ali Mubarak at first ignored the protests, not making a formal statement until Friday evening, though the massive uprising began Tuesday. To be sure, that was much swifter than the 11 days it took Ben Ali to make a televised response to the unrest sweeping his nation. But when he did, he both tried to reduce the distance between himself and the people, while at the same time criticizing the protesters. Neither attempt went over well with Egyptians. "I understand these legitimate demands of the people and I truly understand the depth of their worries and burdens,” he said, in an attempt to wash away the stereotype among Egyptians that he’s out of touch with their problems.

"I'll always be on the side of the poor." It was reminiscent of Ben Ali’s final speech, when he dropped the formal Arabic normally used for public addresses and instead pleaded in the Tunisian dialect, “I have understood you.” Both attempts at closing the gap between leader and people were dismissed by the masses. Failed attempts to offer reforms But Mubarak also criticized the protesters for unleashing chaos in Egypt, and said the road to reform was through dialogue, not violence. Like Ben Ali’s first speech, in which he called the protesters terrorists and enraged the nation, Mubarak’s words infuriated the protesters who had taken to the streets peacefully, only to have the police use tear gas, batons, and bullets against them. Both leaders attempted to pacify protesters with concessions that were rejected: Ben Ali fired his interior minister and promised more freedoms, but protests only grew stronger. Mubarak last week dissolved his government and appointed a vice president for the first time, yet Egyptians are not satisfied by these moves. “With Ben Ali in Tunisia and Mubarak in Egypt, the concessions were not satisfactory to the people, and they wanted no less than the complete change of the regime,” says Sayyid.

Many Egyptians hope that Mubarak will take one more cue from Ben Ali, and flee to Saudi Arabia. As read one sign that a woman held on Friday: “Oh Mubarak, Saudi Arabia and Ben Ali are waiting for you." IN PICTURES: Egyptian protests Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released SARAH EL DEEB Share View photos Egyptian medics escort former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 85, into an ambulance after he was flown by a helicopter ambulance to the Maadi Military Hospital from Torah prison in, Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013. Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak has been released from jail and taken to military hospital in Cairo. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) More CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, wearing a white shirt and loafers while flashing a smile, was released from prison Thursday and transported to a military hospital in a Cairo suburb where he will be held under house arrest.

Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi had ordered that Mubarak be put under house arrest as part of the emergency measures imposed this month after a wave of violence sparked by the ouster of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi, who had succeeded Mubarak as Egypt's first freely elected President. Footage on private TV stations showed the helicopter carrying the 85-year-old Mubarak landing at the pad outside the military hospital, which sits on the banks of the Nile. He was immediately transported to an ambulance and moved across the street to the hospital. An Associated Press photo shows Mubarak on a gurney being transported onto an ambulance amid tight security. He was wearing sunglasses and dressed in a white shirt, beige pants and white loafers. He flashed a smile and held his arms behind his head while medics pushed his gurney into the ambulance. As the ambulance drove across the street and into the main gate of the military hospital, guards, some with their handguns drawn, and soldiers ran after the vehicle, possibly for fear that the ex-president could be the target of an attack. Thursday's move followed a court decision ordering Mubarak's release in relation to charges of receiving gifts from a state-owned newspaper.

The release threatened to stoke the unrest as the Arab nation is already roiled in a crisis over a military coup against Morsi. But the decision to place him under house arrest instead of letting him go free appeared designed to ease some of the criticism over releasing Mubarak and to ensure that he appears in court next week for a separate trial. Despite his release, the 85-year-old ousted leader still faces retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising against him, which could put him back behind bars. His court case resumes next week. He also is being investigated in at least two other corruption cases. State TV said a medically equipped helicopter transported Mubarak to the military hospital in the southern Maadi suburb. Mubarak was held for several weeks of his two years detention in the same hospital as he underwent medical check-ups. His lawyers had cited bad conditions in the prison facilities. Prison authorities had renovated a ward where he was later kept. Since his ouster, Mubarak's supporters have released conflicting details about his health, including that he suffered a stroke, a heart attack and at times went into a coma.

His critics called these an attempt to gain public sympathy and court leniency. His wife, Suzanne, has been living in Cairo and keeping a low-profile, occasionally visiting Mubarak and their two sons in prison. The prospect of Mubarak being freed, even if only temporarily, would feed into the larger crisis bedeviling Egypt: the violent fallout from the July 3 coup that unseated Morsi. Reblog Ynetnews News - Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released comment Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak released Former Egyptian president released from prison following more than two years in detention, to be held under house arrest Associated Press|Last update: 22.08.13 , 17:28 Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison and private TV stations have shown footage of his arrival at a military hospital in a Cairo suburb where he will be held under house arrest. Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi has ordered that Mubarak be put under house arrest as part of the emergency measures imposed this month after a wave of violence sparked by Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi 's ouster.

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood leader arrested Thursday's move followed a court decision ordering his release in relation to charges of receiving gifts from a state-owned newspaper. The house arrest decision appeared designed to ease some of the criticism over Mubarak being freed from prison and ensure that he appears in court next week for a separate trial. The development is a new twist in the saga of the long-time president, toppled in Egypt's popular uprising in 2011, and could potentially stoke tensions in the deeply divided nation. It could also amplify the anger against the military-backed government and Islamist allegations that last month's military coup against Morsi , was a step toward restoring the old regime. Helicopter arrives at prison (Photo: AFP) Mubarak taken to hospital (Photo: AP) Photo: EPA Crowds outside prison (Photo: Reuters) On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi ordered Mubarak be put under house arrest as part of the emergency measures imposed this month after Morsi's removal from office. The decision appeared designed to ease some of the criticism over Mubarak being freed from prison and ensure that he appears in court next week for a separate trial.

El-Beblawi's announcement came hours after a court ordered Mubarak be released for the first time since he was first detained in April 2011. Prison officials said he may be released as early as Thursday but it was unclear where he will be held under house arrest, whether in one of his residences or in a hospital, considering his frail health. Since his ouster, Mubarak's supporters have released conflicting details about his health, including that the 85 year old suffered a stroke, a heart attack and at times went into a coma. His critics called these an attempt to gain public sympathy and court leniency. His wife, Suzanne, has been living in Cairo and keeping a low-profile, occasionally visiting Mubarak and their two sons in prison. But security officials said Mubarak was more likely to be moved to a military hospital because of his ailing health. The order for Mubarak's release followed an appeal by his lawyers in one of his corruption cases. He is currently also standing re-trial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising, which could put him back behind bars, and faces investigation into at least two other corruption cases as well.

The prospect of Mubarak being freed, even if only temporarily, would feed into the larger crisis bedeviling Egypt: the violent fallout from the July 3 coup that unseated Morsi, an Islamist who became Egypt's first freely elected president following Mubarak's ouster. El-Beblawi's decision followed an appeal from the youth campaign that spearheaded the petition and protests against Morsi, asking the interim authorities to use the emergency measures in place earlier this month to keep the former president behind bars. The group Tamarod blamed Morsi's government for Mubarak's coming release because they said it failed to admit new evidence in the case against the autocrat. In a statement, Tamarod warned against releasing Mubarak, saying it would be a threat to national security. "If it is acquittal for Mubarak today, it will be acquittal for Morsi tomorrow," the group said, vowing to hold a public show trial for Mubarak. "We will not remain silent about freedom for any killer of the Egyptian people." Since his July 3 ouster, Morsi has been held incommunicado at an undisclosed location.

Several top leaders and other figures of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which Morsi hails, have been arrested and charged. The three judges who ordered Mubarak be freed met in Tora prison, where he has been held for most of his detention since April 2011. But even before they ruled, human rights advocates have argued for a new system of justice to make up for a shoddy prosecution and a judiciary divided between loyalists of the old regime, Islamists and independents. Egypt's prosecutor Hesham Barakat told local media that the Wednesday decision was final and his office has no plans to appeal it. A senior prison official, Mostafa Baz, told the private CBC television station that his office will ask the prosecutors on Thursday whether Mubarak is wanted in other cases. If he's not, Baz said the former leader would be freed. The possibility of Mubarak's release came in the midst of the post-coup crackdown that has left more than 1,000 people dead and hundreds in detention. Despite the crackdown, the pro-Morsi groups vowed to hold massive rallies on Friday.

Since his overthrow in February 2011, Mubarak has been on a roller coaster ride through the courts during which he has been convicted, only for another court to overturn the ruling, grant him a retrial and order him released. Still, he was kept behind bars pending his retrial and on other charges. For his first trial, on charges of corruption and conspiracy in the deadly shooting of nearly 900 protesters during the uprising against him, he was on a gurney behind prison cage bars and denied the charges. The first Arab leader to face trial by his own people, Mubarak was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. In January, a court overturned his life sentence on the grounds that the prosecution lacked concrete evidence and failed to prove the protesters were killed by the police. His trial on charges of alleged complicity in the killing of protesters resumes Aug. 25.

Egypt: Ousted President Mubarak May Face Life, Morsi Death Egypt: Ousted President Mubarak May Face Life, Morsi Death June 04, 2015 5:53 AM Heather Murdock FILE - Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, sits in the defendants cage behind protective glass, during a court hearing as he listens to his son Gamal, left, in Cairo, Egypt, May 2014. Share See comments CAIRO — In Tahrir Square Thursday, 21-year-old Shams al-Deen, a tour guide, stood in view of a crumbling building as construction workers demolished it. The building was the ruling party headquarters under ousted president Hosni Mubarak before protesters torched it in 2011. It burned for days. Al-Deen said the building should be destroyed not because it is a symbol of the old regime, but because it is old. “It’s been so long since there was anything new for Egypt,” he said.

“We want development.” Four years after protesters stormed the ruling party headquarters under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, construction workers are demolishing the charred building, a symbol of the 2011 uprising near Tahrir Square, Cairo, June 4, 2015. (H. El Rasam) ​As symbols of the 2011 revolution fade, legal battles are in full swing. The court announced Thursday that Mubarak will be tried again on charges connected to the killing of protesters during the uprising. After being convicted of conspiring to kill more than 200 protesters in 2012, Mubarak was originally sentenced to life in prison. In 2014, however, the charges were dropped. Now, prosecutors have been granted a final chance for conviction beginning in November. Prior to this announcement, Mubarak was expected to be freed any day, having already served a three-year sentence on corruption charges. Some locals say the destruction of the unused building is a sign of progress, others complain it represents a time of unprecedented idealism in Egypt, Cairo, June 4, 2015. (H.

El Rasam) Mubarak’s 2014 acquittal was part of a larger problem, according to Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division “It really follows the pattern that we’ve seen of acquittals of Mubarak-era officials who have been charged with a variety of crimes,” she said. “The worst of which, of course, were the mass killings of protesters during the uprising against Mubarak, but also corruption charges,” said Whitson. Uneven justice Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, Mubarak’s successor and fellow ousted president, is possibly facing the death penalty after being convicted of conspiring with foreign militant groups to stage a mass prison break in 2011. Morsi has also been convicted of arresting and torturing protesters in 2012, and accused of fraud and leaking documents. Thousands of other jailed Muslim Brotherhood supporters face harsh sentences, often after being tried in large groups. For many Egyptians, the trials represent a blow to a powerful group that seeks to derail Egyptian development and the nation’s pluralistic values, according to Egyptian journalist Mohamed Tarek.

“Any deal with the Muslim Brotherhood would bring the state back ten years,” he said. However, the appearance of an anti-Islamist bias in the Egyptian courts angers not just Muslim Brotherhood supporters, but the liberal opposition as well, said Ziad Akl, a senior researcher at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. “It’s having political repercussions in terms of creating some sort of middle ground [with] leftist and liberal opposition, who are also anti-Muslim Brotherhood,” he said. And they “are finding in the absence of legal rights and in the absence of independent, non-politicized, non-biased judiciary some form of middle ground between them and the Muslim Brotherhood.” However, the appearance of bias in the courts, highlighted by the trial of the two presidents, is not necessarily proof of bias, said Egyptian publisher and editor Hisham Kassem. For example, he said, acquittals of Mubarak-era officials, and of Mubarak himself, were often for lack of evidence. And when Mubarak stepped down, he had 18 days of an uprising to cover his tracks.

“By the time he did it he left very little trace of his 30 years of corruption,” Kassem said. Morsi, he added, believed he would maintain his seat despite the protests and when he was arrested, left a trail of evidence against himself and his government. Security issue The government led by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi does not distinguish between the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups that have killed hundreds of security officers in the Sinai Peninsula in attacks since Morsi was thrown out of office by the military after mass protests in 2013. The Muslim Brotherhood and the militant groups have all been deemed terrorist organizations. Lumping all of these groups together, in addition to anti-terrorism laws that curb political rights, Akl said, is part of a systemic problem that allows extremism to grow. “It’s not only a security problem,” he explained. “The kind of terrorism that Egypt is facing right now — and it is a problem, I’m not trying to undermine it.

But I’m just saying that it's as much a problem of security measures, as it’s a problem of political consideration, as it’s a problem of legislative consideration, as it’s a problem of cultural and social consideration.” On Wednesday, two police officers were killed near the pyramids in what appeared to be an attack on the tourism industry, a significant part of Egypt's income. The presidential trials, however, are not directly related to the violence, according to Kassem. The prosecution of ousted leaders is part of a solution that may help Egypt build a less corrupt and freer country, he said. “Putting heads of state on trial — now with Morsi and Mubarak — is giving two messages to people like Sisi and future presidents,” he added. “One: if you’re the president of the country, do not be corrupt. The second one is: When the people hit the streets, step down.

That was Morsi’s mistake.” "Egypt's Hosni Mubarak: Following Missteps of Ousted Tunisian Leader?" by Chick, Kristen - The Christian Science Monitor, January 31, 2011 | Online Research Library: Questia Read preview Article excerpt Egypt's Hosni Mubarak at first ignored protesters, and then responded with force. 'I don't think Mubarak learned anything from the Tunisian case,' says one observer. Tunisia's deposed President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali seemingly provided the Arab world a textbook in what not to do to avoid being ousted. Yet instead of avoiding Mr. Ben Ali's missteps, observers say, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak appears to be taking pages from his playbook. "I don't think Mubarak learned anything from the Tunisian case," says Mustapha Kamel El Sayyid, political science professor at the American University in Cairo. In both countries, uncontrollable protests only worsened when police tried to forcefully restrain them; police pulled back and an ensuing security vacuum prompted neighborhood residents to patrol their streets to protect their property; and people gave a joyous welcome to the Army when it stepped in to secure streets.

The similarities in the responses may not bode well for the Egyptian leader, or for the United States. While Tunisia's revolution was a wakeup call to the Arab world and the West, the toppling of Mubarak, America's most stalwart ally in the Middle East and leader of the most populous Arab country, would have far wider consequences for the region. Similar roots of unrest, anger at police The revolution in Tunisia was sparked by widespread anger not only over rising unemployment and increasingly difficult living circumstances, but the ruling family's flagrant corruption and the government's crushing repression. In Egypt, protesters as well have combined economic grievances with a stronger call for freedom and an end to the 30-year-rule of their autocrat. The Egyptian protests are moving somewhat faster than in Tunisia, perhaps thanks to the example of the nation whose population is a little over half the size of Egypt's capital, Cairo. While in Tunisia the demonstrations began as a protest against the government and did not, until the end, coalesce into clear calls for Ben Ali to leave, signs saying "Down with Mubarak" and "Mubarak out" have been a fixture at Egyptian demonstrations since the first one on Jan. 25.

As the demonstrations got bigger, police in both nations used force to try to put them down, in what Sayyid says was a key factor in pushing demonstrators over the edge. Protesters fought police, welcomed Army Tunisia's Army did not step in to restore order on the streets until after Ben Ali's departure. Egypt's military began patrolling the capital after protesters overwhelmed police on Friday. But in both cases, the people welcomed the military with cheers, hugs, and flowers. The internal security apparatuses of both nations have earned the hatred of the populations after decades of being used to suppress them. Torture at the hands of police is common in Tunisia and Egypt. … Subscribe to Questia and enjoy: Full access to this article and over 10 million more from academic journals, magazines, and newspapers Over 83,000 books Access to powerful writing and research tools Article details Hosni Mubarak’s trial begins in Cairo - The Washington Post Hosni Mubarak’s trial begins in Cairo The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published.

You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! Got it By Leila Fadel and Ernesto Londono By Leila Fadel and Ernesto Londono August 3, 2011 CAIRO — Former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak said Wednesday that he did not order the killing of protesters during the recent uprising that ousted him, speaking at the start of an epic trial that could further rock Egypt’s turbulent transition to democracy. Mubarak’s attorney suggested that the leader of Egypt’s ruling military council, Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, was complicit in the crackdown on protesters during most of the 18-day uprising early this year and said he intended to call the general to the stand. The first day of the ousted president’s trial transfixed Egyptians across the country as they watched a man who had once commanded respect and fear lying on a hospital gurney inside a metal cage installed in a makeshift courtroom. It was also a moment that exposed the deep divisions among Egyptians on whether to try the autocrat of almost 30 years, who also faces graft charges, and publicly chastise him.

After the pleas were entered and the lawyers made their requests of the judges, the trial was adjourned. On Wednesday morning, nearly six months after he was forced from power, Mubarak pleaded not guilty in a tremulous voice. “All of these charges I completely deny,” he said after the list was read. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, hovered over him, blocking the view of their father from television cameras and the court. Gamal Mubarak twice kissed his father and frequently leaned in to confer with him as his brother stood erect, holding the Koran in his hand. Hosni Mubarak is being tried alongside his sons, who are charged with corruption. They also denied culpability. Former interior minister Habib al-Adli is also being tried on allegations that he ordered the killing of protesters, as are his deputies. Adli and Mubarak could be sentenced to death if convicted in the slaying of demonstrators. In adjourning the Mubaraks’ trial until Aug. 15, Ahmed Refaat, the judge, said he needed time to review the motions filed by the defense and attorneys for relatives of slain protesters.

The judge said the elder Mubarak would be held at a nearby hospital until his trial resumes. Adli is due to return to court Thursday. Mubarak’s attorney, Farid el-Deeb, said Tantawi took charge of security operations Jan. 28. That was the day Egyptian authorities deployed the army on the streets of Cairo to control swelling protests that had overwhelmed riot police squads. Unarmed protesters were shot and beaten by security forces. Nearly 900 people were killed during the uprising. Deeb made it clear that the defense team intended to make the trial a protracted and grueling affair, with plans to call 1,631 witnesses. He also called for a reevaluation of Hosni Mubarak’s health. Deeb’s effort to shift responsibility for the crackdown to the army — and away from Mubarak — could force the interim military rulers to reassess the ex-president’s trial if it appeared likely to implicate them in government abuses. Tensions have been escalating between the interim leaders and elements of the public. Many Egyptians accuse the generals of failing to purge the government of Mubarak loyalists and have denounced the ongoing trials of civilians in military tribunals.

The rulers have also, at times, used force to break up demonstrations — most recently in Tahrir Square on Monday , when more than 100 people were arrested. On Wednesday, some of those public doubts were put to rest when the military council made good on its pledge to bring Mubarak to trial. But a drawn-out proceeding could revive the mistrust, given the popular pressure for a speedy conviction. The image of Mubarak in a white tracksuit, behind bars, was striking, but also divisive. Outside the police academy building where the trial was being held, Mubarak supporters threw rocks at demonstrators hailing the proceeding. When anti-Mubarak demonstrators responded by throwing rocks and trying to burn posters and portraits praising the ousted leader, riot police broke up the crowds. At least 54 people were injured. Demonstrators erupted into cheers when they saw, on a screen erected outside the police academy, Mubarak being wheeled into the courtroom. Some noted that he looked alert and haughty, wagging his finger when he pleaded not guilty. He had not been seen in public since he delivered a defiant speech Feb. 10, in which he vowed that he would not resign.

A day later, he hastily traveled to the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh after the country’s military chiefs forced him to step down. The former leader has been hospitalized in Sharm el-Sheikh for months. Mubarak’s attorney has said that the 83-year-old is too ill to be put on trial, but Egypt’s health minister certified in recent days that the ousted president is fit enough for the proceedings. Some people attending the trial Wednesday said they felt sorry for the bedridden Mubarak. “He was our president for 30 years, and I don’t like to see him like this. It’s insulting,” said Zurin Fadel, 29. “At least he has courage. He could have escaped if he wanted . . . but he is here.” Earlier, the judge heard from several attorneys for relatives of slain demonstrators. The lawyers complained that many relatives had not been allowed inside the courtroom. One of the few allowed inside, Mustafa Morsi, sighed with satisfaction when he saw the man he blamed for his son’s death behind bars. His son Mohammed, 22, was fatally shot Jan. 28. “I feel relief now. The top suspect is in,” Morsi said.

His arm was in a sling and his head wounded from clashes with the military when troops evicted people from Tahrir Square on Monday. This was the first step to justice, he said. “May God burn his heart.” Outside, Mubarak supporters chanted, “We are here because we love our father. No matter what you do, we’re his children, and we’ll protect him.” A private business owner, Dania Saleh, rolled up in a BMW before the trial and passed out T-shirts that read, “I’m Egyptian, and I reject the trial of the leader of the nation.” “He is our president, and all the people will come here today,” she said, her heart-shaped diamond earrings sparkling. But most Egyptians seemed enthralled by the spectacle of the former president in a cage. Some replaced their Facebook profile photo with a screen grab of Mubarak lying on the gurney. Others voiced indignation that the trial would take longer than a day. His crimes were clear, they said. They pointed to his dyed jet-black hair and what they described as his smug manner, his arms often crossed behind his head, as evidence that his health was fine. “He looks perfectly healthy.

They need to finish this. He killed so many people,” said Hussein Mustapha, 30, a waiter in central Cairo. A lawyer representing 32 families of slain protesters called Mubarak’s entrance a stunt. “He flew to Sharm el-Sheikh like an eagle, and now he’s sick?,” Fathy Abo el-Hassan said. “This is a legal trick.” As the families waited outside the academy, the courtroom was by no means full. Police conscripts in civilian clothes dotted the rows. By the end of the day, as Mubarak was wheeled away, most of them had fallen asleep. Special correspondent Ingy Hassieb contributed to this report. world

Question: Hosni Mubarak was ousted as leader in 2011 from which nation?
Answer: Egypt