CAIRO: Egypt's leading political movement the Muslim Brotherhood said following the adjournment of the trial against former President Hosni Mubarak that it was a “victory for the people.” The trial, which captured the country as televisions and radios tuned in Wednesday morning, is seen as a step in the right direction by the military, who most Egyptians have undying faith in. The Islamic group, banned during the Mubarak era and has already formed a political party – Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) – argued that the trial will continue to build on the trust the people have in its military rulers. The trial of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak “is proof that the ruling militaty council keeps its promise,” said Mohamed Saad al-Katani, secretary-general of the Freedom and Justice Party, in comments published by local media. The trial “was a real victory for the will of the people after the January 25 Revolution,” said al-Katatni in a statement, adding “the presence of Mubarak on a bed inside the dock is a message from the ruling military council that no one is above the law. Judge Ahmed Refaat, presiding over the Cairo Criminal Court, has vowed a speedy trial and said all hearings would be aired live on television. “The fact that millions could watch the trial on television screens will reassure the Egyptian people that justice is on the right course,” he said. Although al-Katani trusts that the ruling military council can hold a fair trial, he also said the case is “big” and “it is the trial of the former president of Egypt,” and thus will likely take time. Many believed the trial of the former ruler might not have happened, even though the military continually repeated that it would happen, and to see the former president in the courtroom cage stirred a lot of emotions in Egyptians. “We are happy to see this man behind bars and getting the justice. Thank the military,” said one viewer at a local Cairo cafe on Wednesday. The transfer of Mubarak to the International Medical Center will remove Egyptians' fears that Mubarak would be coddled in Sharm el-Sheikh during the trial, said al-Katani. “If things continue in this way, it will build the bridges of trust between the people and the ruling body in Egypt during this phase,” Katatni said. BM
