By Ahmed Hazem
CAIRO: Over 100 supporters of ousted president Hosni Mubarak gathered in Mostafa Mahmoud Square in Mohendessin demanding the cancellation of his trial and honoring of his legacy, with some calling for his return to presidency.
The demonstration was mainly organized by the founders and administrators of the Facebook Page “I’m Sorry President,” a page that attracted more than 90,000 of Mubarak supporters.
The organizers created a Facebook page, “Egypt’s Third Revolution: Mubarak’s Children are Coming,” through which they called for a demonstration in Mostafa Mahmoud Square on June 24 under the slogan “The great man should not be insulted.” The newly created page attracted over 9,000 fans.
Protesters called for releasing Mubarak — currently held in a hospital in Sharm El-Sheikh — and canceling his trial, set to start on Aug. 3. He is facing charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters. An official fact-finding mission said 846 were killed and over 6,000 injured during the 18-day uprising that ousted the president.
Protesters also called for reinstalling his name on all his “achievements,” where his name was scratched off. A recent preliminary court verdict ordered his name removed from hundreds of state properties.
Karim Hussein, the administrator of the Facebook page “I’m Sorry President” said that no material evidence was submitted against Mubarak and, thus, demanded his immediate release. “We also demand the punishment of those who falsely accused president Mubarak.”
“Respect and dignity are the basic rights of any human being,” said Assem Abou Al Khier, another co- administrator of the same page.
Protesters set up a stage outside the mosque— whose yard has become home to pro-Mubarak protests since Feb. 2— where speeches were given and songs were played in support of the ousted president.
“Mubarak, the country is collapsing without you,” they chanted, holding pictures of Mubarak, as passersby hurled insults at them for supporting the ousted leader.
“I’m here to support president Mubarak as he peacefully stepped down, unlike other Arab leaders who are killing their own people,” Yasser Abdel-Alim, a blacksmith, told Daily News Egypt. He refused calling Mubarak the “ousted president,” saying he willingly stepped down.
Madiha Abdel-Aziz, a housewife, denounced all insults to Mubarak and demanded the immediate cancellation of his trial. “Mubarak has been defending Egyptians for 30 years,” she said.
Chants repeated by protesters included: “The people demand the president’s freedom,” “We love you President Mubarak,” “We came because we love our father and will not leave even if we were killed,” “Tahrir Square doesn’t represent all Egypt” and “This is not a revolution; it’s revenge.”
“If employees in a company committed a wrongdoing, they are the ones who should be punished not the company’s CEO. That’s my opinion in Mubarak’s case and I believe that what’s happening to him is unfair,” Mohamed Gala, an undergraduate student at the faculty of commerce, told DNE.
“Even if Mubarak’s name was removed from landmarks, history will always remember these landmarks as Mubarak’s achievements,” Islam Badr, a pharmacist, said.
He took the demands presented by protesters a stop further. “I demand that Mubarak regain his position as Egypt’s president and then peacefully renounces presidency to whomever he sees eligible,” he explained, “I believe this is the only acceptable way to express gratitude for Mubarak and restore his dignity.”
Hassan Al Ghandour, a former military officer who served with the Republican Guards, agreed with Badr. He said he created two Youtube channels, titled “Mubarak for the People” and “The Egyptian Eagle,” in addition to a website in support of Mubarak. He said Egypt’s next president should be a member of the military not a civilian.
“I came to apologize and repay the favor for President Mubarak” Mohanad Gaber, the administrator of the Facebook page “October’s Eagle” and one of the demonstration’s organizers, told DNE. Gaber wanted the military to officially honor Mubarak.
Mubarak’s lawyer Farid El-Deeb told AFP this week that the former president was suffering from stomach cancer and that “the tumors are growing.”
Earlier this week clashes took place between pro and anti Mubarak groups outside Moustafa Mahmoud Mosque while the former were planning for their demonstration. Both groups were arrested by police, reconciled and released shortly.
“We were heavily mistreated and insulted inside the police station to the extent that the police officer asked the prisoners to physically attack us as he put us in jail,” Mina Nabil, one of the organizers, claimed.
Until press time, no clashes were seen or reported at the demonstration site. –Additional reporting by AFP.
