THE former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, was beginning a life sentence in a Cairo prison last night after being convicted of failing to stop the killing of protesters during the mass demonstrations that led to his fall from power last year.
His opponents’ euphoria at the verdict turned to fury when six high-ranking state security officials were acquitted. Thousands gathered for fresh protests in Tahrir Square as the families of some of those killed said they had been denied justice. Renewed unrest could disrupt campaigning for the second round of the country’s presidential election in two weeks’ time.
Scuffles broke out inside and outside the court as the case — the first in which a leader deposed during the Arab spring had faced trial in person — came to an end.
Judge Ahmed Refaat ruled that the 84-year-old former dictator and his interior minister, Habib al-Adly, who was also jailed for life, must be held responsible for the deaths of demonstrators. More than 800 were killed and 6,000 injured during the 18-day revolt.
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Mubarak and his sons Gamal, 48, and Alaa, 51, were cleared of corruption charges. His sons will remain in custody awaiting trial on further charges of insider trading.
On the orders of Egypt’s general prosecutor, Mubarak was transferred by helicopter from the medical compound where he had been staying to Tora prison on the outskirts of Cairo following the verdict.
He was described as tearful and initially refused to leave the helicopter when it arrived at the prison. It took his escorts half an hour to persuade him to enter. Reports that he had suffered a “health crisis” could not be substantiated.
Protesters had long requested Mubarak’s transfer. Reports last week said he had been living a comfortable life at the medical facility, where he was free to see relatives, walk in the garden and use a swimming pool and gym.
Nevertheless, the celebratory chants and fireworks that greeted the court’s decision soon gave way to disappointment as Ahmed Ramzy, head of the riot police, and Hassan Abdel Rahman, state security chief, were found not guilty. Some officials burst into tears.
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The outcome left the critical question of who gave the orders to use live fire against protesters unanswered, fuelling resentment among the relatives of the so-called “martyrs”. Many had also hoped Mubarak would be sentenced to death.
Several policemen accused of killing protesters have been acquitted, including four last week, adding to the sense that justice has not been achieved.
A tense silence that had been maintained throughout the proceedings was broken as the court session ended and supporters and opponents of Mubarak clashed in court.
In chaotic scenes, angry lawyers climbed onto their chairs chanting, “The people want the cleansing of the judiciary!” Mubarak and the other defendants were whisked away amid shouts of “illegitimate”.
Outside, demonstrators threw rocks, shoes and bottles at riot police. The verdict also prompted protests in central Cairo, Suez and Alexandria.
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The life sentence for Mubarak may have been intended in part to defuse tensions ahead of the presidential elections on June 16 and 17, pitting Mohamed Mursi, the Islamist candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, against Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak’s last appointed prime minister. The run-off has frustrated supporters of the revolution who have rejected both candidates.
The protesters yesterday chanted against Shafiq. His posters were burnt and red paint was spilt on the ground to symbolise the blood of the “martyrs”. Earlier last week a mob had set fire to his Cairo campaign headquarters and eight of his regional campaign centres were attacked. Thousands demonstrated on Friday urging the constitutional court to uphold a law that would bar Shafiq from the presidency.
Political analysts suggested that anger at the verdicts could ignite further unrest. After a turbulent year of military rule and repeated brutal crackdowns on demonstrators by the armed forces, many Egyptians feel the freedom they had yearned for has yet to materialise.
The verdicts of the court were preceded by an address when the judge praised the revolution that had brought a “new dawn” following “30 years of black darkness”. The verdicts were seen as politically motivated and lawyers said the lack of hard proof would make the sentences easier to overturn on appeal.