CAIRO: The historic sight of Hosni Mubarak wheeled into the docks along with his two sons Alaa and Gamal elicited mixed reactions among Egyptians who started their day early to watch the ousted president’s trial.
The public trial of Mubarak, his sons, former interior minister Habib El-Adly and six of his aides, had families glued to their television screens at home and crowds huddled in cafes around Cairo at 10 am – an unusual sight during the month of Ramadan.
“Today is my new birthday. I thank the military council for letting me see the day where Mubarak is behind bars,” a man who asked to be referred to as “prisoner seven for 14 years,” told Daily News Egypt.
He said that Mubarak should wear the same “black filthy uniform” that prisoners wear.
“I’m sad and happy at the same time,” said 28-year-old Mohamed Hassan, a salesman at a mobile shop. “I’m sad that a person who ruled one of the greatest civilizations for 30 years is behind bars but happy that justice prevails and no one is above the law,” he explained.
“This is the expected end for a dictator who oppressed his people and [ordered their killing], he brought it all on himself,” said 27-year-old Ahmed Abdel Mohsen.
“I am happy that I’m alive to see this day,” said 34-year-old Dina Mahmoud, a housewife. “What he and his family are going through today is nothing compared to the many people he has tortured and humiliated as an unjust, oppressive and corrupt dictator,” she added.
Some called for disregarding the trial and moving forward.
“Try him or not this is up to the court and the judicial system, this can’t be our main concern as Egyptians at the moment, this is a crucial time for our country and our focus should be on our future, building and developing Egypt,” 51-year-old Esmat Abdel Bary, teacher at a public school, said.
On the other hand, showing up on a hospital bed earned Mubarak some sympathy.
Fatma Al-Zahraa Mohamed, a 29-year-old accountant, said that while she is not against trying Mubarak, she is against violating his personal rights.
“I am for the trial of Mubarak, but I also advocate the principle of human rights which the revolution called for and now I’m wondering whether this public trial and condemnation is a violation to the right to a fair trail which everyone is entitled to,” she said.
Some people also criticized what they described as “gloating.”
“He is an old man, he deserves respect and not this humiliation and gloating from the people, they got everything they wanted and he is not a president anymore,” said 79-year-old Esraa Sedky.
“What good is it if he shows up in court or not?” she said.
“What is this need for revenge? I’m surprised at how cruel Egyptians are today,” 62-year-old Fatma Aboul Wafa said.
“How will all these negative feelings benefit us? … They can only hurt us,” she said.
Some were skeptical about the trial, wondering if it was simply for show.
“This trial is nothing but an act to play on people’s feelings and opinions. Of course this was one of our demands, but not our basic demands which are social, economic, political and judicial reform,” Reem Maamoun, member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the Lotus Revolution Coalition, told DNE.
She added that she is worried some people might forget the revolution’s real demands, but “Egyptians are not fools and know that no reform took place … Some people might think that the revolution has succeeded by Mubarak’s trial, which is not true.”
On the other hand, activist Seif Allah Mabrouk said that even if Mubarak’s wheeling in on a hospital bed was “an act, the people deserve to be happy and gain momentum to continue the revolution.”
“I am satisfied with what I saw today. This is a step forward in front of the whole world that justice can be served. We should not be very happy … this is the first step and we have to continue,” he told DNE.
Seif said he was not very happy with the martyrs’ defense, describing them as “weak,” but said he was happy with the judge.
“We are writing the rules of the country,” he said.
