CAIRO: Ahmed Hefnawy sits and smokes his shisha, drinks his tea. His eyes are glued to the television, which is displaying images from the trial of ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak. “I hope he dies,” the young Cairo University student told Bikyamasr.com on Tuesday morning. “I just wish he would face the tear gas and bullets that he ordered on us last year.” In a number of circles, as the closing arguments are made by the prosecution in what has become the most newsworthy story in Egypt in recent days, Egyptians want their 83-year-old former president executed for allegedly ordering the killing of protesters during the January 2011 uprising. “Why not? He killed people without thinking twice and people want compassion? He gave us none,” Hefnawy added. The lawyers, who are representing the families of the victims who were killed during the 18 days of uprising, agree with Hefnawy. On Monday, they demanded the death penalty for Mubarak, echoing prosecution demands made last week in their closing arguments. “We want an end to the Mubarak era and Hosni Mubarak,” a brother of a victim told Bikyamasr.com on Monday morning. “We want Mubarak to die for his killing of Egyptians,” the young man added. “There is life for you in the law of retribution, o men of understanding,” prosecutor Mostafa Khater told the court, quoting from Islam's holy book. Activists and families of the victims of the uprising have demanded justice, telling Bikyamasr.com from the court they “expect Mubarak to face the same fate as our loved ones for what he did to this country.” But there are worries that anything less than the death penalty could spark massive outrage ahead of January 25, when activists hope to galvanize thousands for anti-military protests. “I don't know what would happen if he is not found guilty and sentenced to death,” said Mona Omar, a young 22-year-old law student who has been assisting families in delivering testimony to legal counsel. She told Bikyamasr.com that “if Mubarak is not put to death, I think the country will revolt and the military knows this so it will be interesting to watch. There is a lot of anger on the ground. I feel it.” Mubarak, his former minister of interior Habib al-Adly and 6 top aides are on trial for killing protesters during the 18 days of the popular uprising that ousted the president and brought the former regime down. They also face charges of financial corruption and importing Egyptian gas to Israel for prices lower than the international rate. The violence used by the police left some 1,000 people dead and hundreds more injured. Families of those who lost their lives in the clashes late in January and early February, gathered outside the courtroom holding signs demanding swift justice. Mubarak, who is reportedly suffering from severe depression, was flown in a private jet to the court from his private, highly secured medical wing at the International Medical Center, where he is being treated instead of the prison hospital, whose defense claim is not ready for his “condition.” The committee assigned by the attorney general to assess Mubarak's condition recommended that he stay at the same place, “as he could be in danger of a stroke or a heart attack” if he is to be moved. The army and police are cooperating in securing the trial in unprecedented security measures to make sure Mubarak is safe. Mubarak's two sons, Gamal and Alaa, are also on trial for financial corruption and are accused of using their positions as the president's sons to seal illegal deals, raising the family's fortune to tens of millions of dollars. Mubarak was positioning his son Gamal to succeed him in ruling the country, fueling public anger and protests over the past 7 years in opposition to the alleged power transfer plan. ** Manar Ammar contributed to this report. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/whUIg Tags: Death Penalty, featured, Hosni Mubarak, Trial Section: Egypt, Latest News
