Former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted after weeks of protest earlier this year, stood trial today for allegedly ordering violence against protesters. The images from the trial were startling to many, as a gaunt Mubarak entered a plea of "not guilty" from a hospital gurney inside a defendant's cage.
Outside the courtroom, protesters gathered and occasionally clashed, since some of them supported Mubarak while others did not. Many Egyptians are skeptical about whether Mubarak will go to jail and be punished for his alleged crimes, because Egypt is currently run by a military council and Mubarak used to be in their inner circle.
Still, other Egyptians viewed the trial as a turning and healing point for their country, since they never believed Mubarak would be brought to trial in the first place. Following yesterday's proceedings, Mubarak and his sons were returned to detention facilities; the trial will resume Aug. 15.
Quotes
"I think this trial is the beginning of a farce, because we expect that Mubarak will never go to jail, and this is an attempt by the military council to calm public opinion." - Abdulah Mohamed, Egypt
"A lot of Egyptians saw all this as a moment, a turning point, especially with the military leadership being questioned more and more about whether they were willing to do this. So many people had doubted that it would happen at all, until the last minute." - Leila Fadel, Washington Post
Warm Up Questions
1. What happened in Egypt at the beginning of this year?
2. What does the term 'Arab Spring' refer to?
3. Who is Hosni Mubarak?
Discussion Questions
1. If you lived in Egypt, how do you think you would feel about Mubarak's trial? Why?
2. How does this trial compare to other trials of former dictators and leaders? Can you think of other, similar examples from history?
3. What do you think should happen to Mubarak? Why?
Additional Resources
