CAIRO - 'Porto Torah', 'Republic Tora Palace', 'a global cell on Egyptian land', many sarcastic names have been invented by Facebook users for Torah Prison, southern Cairo, a symbol of the corrupt former regime. A large number of the former National Democratic Party members, (NDP), businessmen, ex-ministers and the former president Mubarak's two sons have gathered there albeit not voluntarily. They are accused of involvement in crimes of political and economic corruption, in addition to violence against protesters during the January 25 revolution. Is it possible to visit Torah Prison? Many people all over the country ask this question, curious to see the place where representatives of the former corrupt government are being held in detention. Some of the poorer citizens cannot believe what has happened and imagine that Torah has turned into the new headquarters for rulers-in-waiting. Torah is located in area rife with poverty and thuggery. But the arrival of tycoons, ex-ministers and other important people has provided citizens with more security. According to Mahmoud Adel, a deliveryman in the neighbourhood, many thugs are now afraid and have to limit their nefarious activities. While he is pleased that representatives of the corrupt regime have been detained, he hopes that officials would now think twice before doing anything illegal. He doesn't hide his curiosity about life in prison as far as these VIP prisoners are concerned. Citizens in Torah's neighbourhood are feeling proud, because it has become as famous and important as Al Tahrir Square. There are also rumours that real estate prices in the area have risen. Many people suffered from corrupt former senior officials, says Hajj Rashid Ahmed, a grocer, when expressing his satisfaction about Gamal and Alaa Mubarak's arrival at Torah. Rashid was a victim of privatisation policies; he lost his job at the age of 40 and could not support his family anymore. There is high security in place even more so when the famous prisoners are taken for questioning and later returned. Many people keep a close watch on these comings and goings. Hassan Ahmed, a taxi driver, saw Gamal and Alaa arrive in a helicopter while he was getting petrol at a station near the prison. ”It's so hard to believe! President Mubarak's sons in jail! Who would have imagined anything of the sort! Everybody wants to go inside and see for themselves that it's really true.” A lorry driver, who lives in the neighbourhood, told Al-Ahram semi-official Arabic newspaper that he was part of a group of vigilantes who helped the Army to guard the prison and frustrate any attempt at escape by the famous detainees. Mohamed Abdul Hamid is a young man of 20, who has a kiosk near Torah. Thanks to the influx of visitors and curious people, his business is prospering like never before, but he is worried about the future. He wants the famous prisoners to be put on trial without delay and is angry that their life in jail is so luxurious. Apparently the VIP prisoners have food and drink from the best restaurants in Cairo, plasma screens and satellite dishes and even water pipes. This kind of preferential treatment does not satisfy the victims of the former regime. A relative of a poor prisoner, who had been moved from El Qatta Prison to Torah, said he would kill any of the famous prisoners if he came across them while inside.
