Abdel Mageed Mahmoud, one of Egypt’s chief state prosecutors, announced that he will appeal yesterday’s verdict in the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak, who was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the killing of Egyptians demonstrating against his regime last year. Meanwhile, the Egyptian public has had the opposite reaction to the news: Thousands have poured into Tahir Square, the scene of the original protests, to oppose what they view as the leniency of the judgement.
People are angry that Mubarak was acquitted of the corruption charges against him, while his sons and top police commanders received no punishment at all. Many believe that he should receive a death sentence, and still others are calling for the cancellation of the country’s upcoming elections on the argument that yesterday’s sentence and the start of the appeals process proves that Mubarak’s cohort still essentially controls the government.
