EGP nudges higher vs. USD in early Thursday trading    Global electricity demand to surge through 2026 – IEA    Japan's c. bank holds key interest rate    Egypt, US FMs discuss Gaza crisis, Nile water security    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tahrir protesters react to reports of Mubarak 'clinical death'
Protesters demonstrating in Tahrir Square against military rule believe reports of Mubarak's death a state ruse to distract disaffected Egypt
Published in Ahram Online on 20 - 06 - 2012

Cheers erupted and fireworks were let off as reports that toppled president Hosni Mubarak was pronounced "clinically dead" trickled into Tahrir Square.
"After 30 years of a brutal regime, the people wanted to say yes, they won for just a day, of course they are rejoicing" says Kawsar Abdel-Atti, 40, a house wife form Sharabaya who had taken her six children to Cairo's flashpoint square earlier that evening to "celebrate Mohamed Mursi's win."
"Large crowds also left the square as they felt sad that an old man had died – we're Egyptians, it doesn't matter who it is, we feel bad if someone dies," her eldest son, Ahmed Abdel-Atti, a 19-year-old computer science student added.
Others, however, believed there were darker state intentions behind the decision to release this breaking piece of news, particularly when reports began circulating that the imprisoned leader was in fact not dead.
General Said Abbas, a member of the ruling military council, told Reuters that the imprisoned former president had suffered a stroke but added: "Any talk of him being clinically dead is nonsense."
Another military source said: "He is completely unconscious. He is using artificial respiration."
A member of the military council, General Mamdouh Shaheen, told CNN: "He is not clinically dead as reported, but his health is deteriorating and he is in critical condition."
The celebrations quickly fizzled out when banned presidential contender Hazem Abu-Ismail took to the stage "to tell people to quieten down as it's a lie" adds Ahmed.
"The military just wanted to make big news that would eclipse the Tahrir protests about the ruling military council, the elections and the amended constitutional," Mohammed Tarek, 27, an interior designer said, "It worked; the media suddenly started talking about Mubarak, and people started to leave the square."
Sabri, a 43-year-old music instructor, who boycotted the elections but was in Tahrir Square to protest the constitutional addendum, said he thought it was a government-spread rumour. Notably, he added, as the first news of Mubarak's 'so-called' death came from government news agency MENA.
"The ruling military council is playing games with us – just like they did with the trial," Sabri says.
"For example they cleared Mubarak and his sons of corruption charges, even though here in Egypt we have lost so much money: money is exactly what we need more than anything else, as it decides your dignity and destiny. Of course the SCAF would protect him; Tantawi got his money from the same pocket. The state believes that we are swallowing the lies they feed us, but we're not."
Mursi-supporter Samir Amin Ibrahim, 30, said the news of Mubarak's "death" worried him as he felt it was part of a military-organised plan. "It is like everything is scheduled to ensure the revolution is killed, first the parliament is dissolved, then Shafiq is allowed to run for the presidency, then the SCAF's constitutional declaration and now Mubarak dead, just when we take to the streets in big numbers."
However, he added that if Mubarak had died, people would be still be unhappy, despite ousting the former president "we don't rejoice in death."
Some, like shoe sellerAshraf Mohamed Youssef, 36, thought that it is an elaborate ruse to ensure that Mubarak is moved out of Tora Prison and into the comfortable surroundings of the Maadi Military Hospital. Mubarak, who had served just 18 days of his life sentence, initially refused to enter Tora Prison after being found guilty on the 2 June of participating in the crime of killing protesters during last year's popular uprising.
Previously he had been living in the luxury of the International Medical Centre, which, allegedly, had gardens, a swimming pool and a helicopter pad.
Youssef worries that Mubarak's death will garner support for the 84-year-old autocrat "people will feel for sorry for him, he's an old sick man, we are human after all."


Clic here to read the story from its source.