Mubarak Verdict Leaves Many Unsatisfied

Judges sentenced ex-Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to life imprisonment on Saturday, June 2, for his involvement in the deaths of protesters during the Egyptian revolution last year.  Many across the Arab world saw this trial as the first step in bringing justice to the man who ruled Egypt with a firm grip for 30 years.

Others expressed their disapproval of the verdict and felt that justice had not been served.

As the first leader to be tried in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Mubarak’s fate has reignited the debate over the future of other former leaders in the region and the movement towards justice in post-revolutionary Arab states.

Tunisian cousins Bilel Bihajj, a master’s candidate in physics, and Skander Bihajj, a technician, were outraged upon hearing the news of Mubarak’s sentence. To them, the punishment was far less than was expected. They believe that former dictators like Tunisia’s Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and Mubarak deserve execution.

According to the cousins, eliminating corruption and ensuring that those associated with the old regime do not have access to power is the only way to ensure that the Arab Spring is successful. They expressed their resentment that Mubarak only received a punishment of life imprisonment and argued that it does not allow for reform of the previous system.

Tunisian computer engineer Kaszidi shared the Bihajjs’ sentiments. All three individuals complained that the rampant corruption of the foreign regime has gone unchecked, even after the revolution.

“Mubarak is a criminal, and it is not the right punishment. Egypt needs more time to punish the entire system, not just Mubarak,” said Kaszidi. He added that the current government has still not held everyone from the Ben Ali regime accountable for their numerous political abuses. Because of this, in Kaszidi’s eyes, the Arab Spring has transformed into a continued revolution.

Some Egyptians were vehement in their anger at the verdict. Norman Emad, a Christian Egyptian political activist, said that the verdict is a “…disgrace, indicating that the Mubarak regime is coming back. It doesn’t satisfy any Egyptian.” Emad fears that the verdict can be appealed and feels that the proper punishment may not be given to others who are guilty of murder.

There is a common consensus that this verdict will set a precedent where too many of the individuals complicit in past human rights and political abuses will not be held accountable. “I question the objectivity of the judiciary,” added Emad.

Not all were angered by the verdict. Some individuals were resigned to the judicial decision and simply wanted to move forward.  Salem, a Libyan policeman who travels frequently to Tunisia, said that the verdict changes nothing in Egypt. Instead, he added, people need to focus less on the past and to instead ensure that the political transitions are successful in creating sustainable democratic and political rights.