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Cairo court drops case against former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak for protester deaths Egyptian court drops case against former president Mubarak for protester deaths
(about 2 hours later)
CAIRO — A Cairo court dropped its case Saturday against former president Hosni Mubarak on charges that he ordered police to kill hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising, in a ruling that rights activists said demonstrates the impunity enjoyed by ex-regime figures three years after the pro-democracy revolt.CAIRO — A Cairo court dropped its case Saturday against former president Hosni Mubarak on charges that he ordered police to kill hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising, in a ruling that rights activists said demonstrates the impunity enjoyed by ex-regime figures three years after the pro-democracy revolt.
The court also acquitted the former strongman’s top security aides of the same accusations. The presiding judge said prosecutors had waited too long to file their indictment against Mubarak, cancelling the court’s jurisdiction over the case. More than 800 people died during the 18-day revolt that ousted Mubarak three years ago, rights groups say. The court also acquitted the former strongman’s top security aides of the same accusations. The presiding judge said prosecutors had waited too long to file their indictment against Mubarak, canceling the court’s jurisdiction over the case. More than 800 people died during the 18-day revolt that ousted Mubarak three years ago, rights groups say.
The courtroom at the Police Academy in Cairo erupted in applause after the verdict was read. The judge also cleared Mubarak and his two sons of separate charges of corruption, including a case in which Mubarak was accused of conspiring with longtime confidant and businessman Hussein Salem to sell gas to Israel at below-market prices. The courtroom crowd at the police academy in Cairo erupted in applause after the verdict was read. The judge also cleared Mubarak and his two sons of separate charges of corruption, including a case in which Mubarak was accused of conspiring with longtime confidant and businessman Hussein Salem to sell gas to Israel at below-market prices.
Pro-Mubarak crowds gathered outside the Cairo-area military hospital where Mubarak is staying, cheering and playing nationalist songs. The former president is under house arrest there while serving a three-year sentence for the misuse of public funds.Pro-Mubarak crowds gathered outside the Cairo-area military hospital where Mubarak is staying, cheering and playing nationalist songs. The former president is under house arrest there while serving a three-year sentence for the misuse of public funds.
The military also sealed off Cairo’s Tahrir Square with armored personnel carriers to prevent protests against the verdict.The military also sealed off Cairo’s Tahrir Square with armored personnel carriers to prevent protests against the verdict.
“It’s a good thing that he was declared innocent. This is proof Egypt will never fail,” Mohamed Ibrahim, a 36-year-old carpenter, said outside the military hospital in the Cairo suburb of Maadi. “This is a slap in the face to the Americans. They sold him out.”“It’s a good thing that he was declared innocent. This is proof Egypt will never fail,” Mohamed Ibrahim, a 36-year-old carpenter, said outside the military hospital in the Cairo suburb of Maadi. “This is a slap in the face to the Americans. They sold him out.”
But rights lawyers here criticized the court’s handling of the case. In 2012, the ex-strongman and his onetime interior minister, Habib al-Adly, were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the protesters’ deaths. But they were later granted a retrial.But rights lawyers here criticized the court’s handling of the case. In 2012, the ex-strongman and his onetime interior minister, Habib al-Adly, were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the protesters’ deaths. But they were later granted a retrial.
The indictment covered only six days of the police response to the nearly three-week-long rebellion in 2011, when demonstrators rose up against Mubarak’s 30-year-old regime. Prosecutors investigated Mubarak and his aides for the deaths of 239 people in 10 provinces.The indictment covered only six days of the police response to the nearly three-week-long rebellion in 2011, when demonstrators rose up against Mubarak’s 30-year-old regime. Prosecutors investigated Mubarak and his aides for the deaths of 239 people in 10 provinces.
Egyptian security forces were notorious for their brutality under the Mubarak government. But lawyers here say the prosecution struggled to make its case.Egyptian security forces were notorious for their brutality under the Mubarak government. But lawyers here say the prosecution struggled to make its case.
“There was no real evidence [against Mubarak], so this was an inevitable outcome,” said Mohamed Zaree, a lawyer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights. At the same time, he said, “there was never any real intention to try Mubarak.”“There was no real evidence [against Mubarak], so this was an inevitable outcome,” said Mohamed Zaree, a lawyer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights. At the same time, he said, “there was never any real intention to try Mubarak.”
Heba Habib contributed to this report.Heba Habib contributed to this report.