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Egypt: Verdict in trial of former President Hosni Mubarak to be issued Sept. 27
Since the revolt, nearly 173 policemen and security officials have been put on trial, but all were acquitted either for lack of evidence or under the pretext that the police acted in self-defence. The acquittals became a cornerstone of Mubarak’s defence strategy.
Mubarak said that the 2011 protests began peacefully but were taken over by “exploiters of religion inside and outside the country” who steered the demonstrations toward violence.
It was the same language often used by Mubarak-era media men and officials to refer to the Muslim Brotherhood group, whose leader Mohammed Mursi became Mubarak’s successor in the country’s first free elections in 2012.
A year later, the military overthrew Mursi after millions staged demonstrations against him demanding his resignation for what they called abuse of power. The government branded the group a terrorist organization and unleashed an unprecedented deadly crackdown against its supporters, who staged near daily rallies demanding Mursi’s return to power.Br />
Mursi himself faces charges that carry the death sentence.
The Brotherhood is preparing for mass demonstrations on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary of the violent dispersal of pro-Mursi sit-ins.
Source: Associated Press
