Source: The National
The appearance of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in a Cairo courtroom on Monday reassured millions of Egyptians that their revolutionary struggle was not in vain. But as the trial is now merged with that of the former minister of interior, Habib El Adly, (along with Mr Mubarak’s two sons, Alaa and Gamal) and adjourned until next month, the truth about Mr Mubarak’s ability to participate in his trial is still unclear.
The public’s confidence in these proceedings has suffered as a result.
It is unusual for a defendant to appear in court on a stretcher – a defendant’s health is either good enough for him to stand trial or not. With the public already doubting the court’s seriousness, Mr Mubarak’s appearance could have been a political decision aimed at boosting confidence. If this is the case, the judiciary risks appearing politicised in the eyes of Egyptians.
In transitional societies domestic trials to address crimes of past regimes almost always face major challenges, especially when political transformation is still underway and vetting of state institutions is not complete, as is the case in Egypt. The desire to seek justice early is understandable given the gravity of the alleged crimes, yet the rush to get trials underway can bring undesired results.
Human rights organisations, lawyers, judges and the families of victims have expressed doubts about investigations carried out by the general prosecutor since Mr Mubarak’s downfall. This can be attributed to a number of factors, not least that Mr Mubarak himself appointed the prosecutor overseeing inquiries before leaving power.
Under Mr Mubarak’s rule, the prosecutor’s office was regularly criticised for being used as a tool to silence opposition. According to human rights activists, the office was complicit with the policy of impunity.
Categories: Egypt