CAIRO // The historic trial of Hosni Mubarak was never going to heal the wounds of his 30-year rule over Egypt and the violent repression of protesters during last year's uprising.
The charges against him, his sons, a business tycoon and officials from the ministry of interior were far narrower than the crimes many Egyptians believe they had committed. Even more challenging was the investigation itself: how does a police force and prosecution team that once served Mubarak go about investigating his crimes?
Many crucial documents were destroyed during the uprising and no crime-scene investigators collected evidence where many young revolutionaries were killed.
When a country emerges from a dark era where human rights were trampled without accountability, it is not just verdicts that are needed to help it reconcile with its past.
What is needed is the truth. Many countries undergoing an important political transition have appointed special truth and reconciliation commissions in parallel to court proceedings to deal with this very problem.
Nelson Mandela established such a commission in South Africa after apartheid.
Justice is not only meted out through verdicts. It can also come through an exhaustive accounting of what happened, where and to whom.
Not included in the case that ended yesterday was Mubarak's legacy as president of Egypt, a period where corruption spread its tentacles across the economy and where the powerful state security apparatus regularly arrested political opposition members and held them without trial, and tortured those suspected of crimes.
It is possible that Ahmed Refaat, who was the head of a panel of three judges overseeing the case, realised this. The most cathartic moment of the hearing was his 15-minute speech before the sentencing, where he described the reign of Mubarak as "darkness that resembled a winter night" and lamented the state of poverty and divisiveness he left in his wake.
When it came to the cases under review in the trial, many of the prosecution's arguments appeared thin and legally reckless. The statute of limitations had clearly expired on the corruption charges, which raises questions about why the prosecution would pursue those cases in the first place.
Even if the alleged crimes had occurred within the statute of limitations, there appeared to be no evidence proving that those villas were discounted or sold in exchange for the Mubarak family's decision to award a lucrative contract to export gas to Israel to a company formed by Hussein Salem, the fugitive business tycoon.
There was even speculation that Mubarak would not be found guilty of having a role in the deaths of protesters because of the paucity of evidence connecting him to the authorisation of lethal force by the police. Mr Refaat appeared to find Mubarak guilty based on the former president's political responsibility, rather than issuing a direct order.
The trial is but one example of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' poorly managed political transition for Egypt. Elections have been held before a new constitution has been written, leading to a confusing and dangerous situation where the new president will theoretically assume the powers Mubarak had when he resigned.
Likewise, the prosecution proceeded with a criminal case without any kind of parallel accounting of what happened during the 18-day uprising or the decades before.
It is no wonder that throngs of activists and ordinary Egyptians suspect the remnants of the old regime are trying to preserve their power.
The lesson for the other countries of the Arab Spring is that the story of a country's transition should not be written in courts, but through an open and objective examination of the facts.
bhope@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
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Mountain%20Boy
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
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