(AFP PHOTO / HASSAN MOHAMED)
Ousted president Hosni Mubarak called on Egyptians “to stand behind and support” current President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Mubarak made these comments during a phone interview Sunday evening on satellite channel Sada Al-Balad with TV host Ahmed Mousa. The former president narrated events relating to the withdrawal of Israel from the Sinai Peninsula in 25 April 1982, in commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of Sinai Liberation Day.
“Egypt is facing great challenges, without doubt, the variables surrounding us are very complicated, the region is complicated and our national security is linked everything happening in the region,” he said.
He further said that Egypt has a “strong army” that is capable of defending its land as “sons of the military establishments, currently headed by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi know the meaning of national sovereignty”.
Since being toppled as president after the 25 January Revolution, Mubarak was charged in several cases including corruption cases, abuse of power and killing protestors during the revolution.
In November 2014, Cairo Criminal Court dismissed the murder charges against Mubarak as the court was “inadmissible” to rule on the case. He was also acquitted on the corruption cases.
Mubarak was interviewed on Sada Al-Balad following his acquittal, where he stressed that he “didn’t commit” any crimes against protestors.
Mubarak’s era was followed by the Muslim Brotherhood coming into power when Mohamed Morsi held the position for a year between 2012 and 2013. Mass protests against his tenure took to the streets led to his ouster.
Morsi is charged on other cases that include: espionage with Qatar, espionage with Hamas Palestinian movement and Prison break.
Unlike Mubarak, the Islamist president was handed a 20-years imprisonment sentence on 21 April, on charges of ‘demonstrating power and violence’ and ‘inciting violence’ against protestors in December 2012 outside the Presidential Palace.
