Egyptian court dismisses charges against Mubarak

An Egyptian court on Saturday in Cairo dismissed charges against former President Hosni Mubarak for his involvement in the deaths of protesters during a 2011 uprising that ended his rule.

The Cairo Criminal Court also acquitted Mubarak’s Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, and ex-security chiefs of the same charges.

The court cleared Mubarak, his sons, Alaa and Gamal, and a fugitive business tycoon of charges in a separate corruption case.

Presiding judge, Mahmoud al-Rasheedi, referring to Mubarak, said that “only history and God should be called on to issue judgment on someone who served as vice president and then president of Egypt for over 30 years.’’


Mubarak was already serving three years in prison in a separate corruption case.

The 86-year old is staying in an army hospital in southern Cairo due to frail health.

Prior to delivering the verdict, al-Rasheedi warned the audience in the courtroom that any reaction to the rulings would be considered an act of contempt for the court.

In 2011, Mubarak was jailed for life for failing to prevent the protester killings, becoming the first-ever Egyptian ruler to be tried and sent to prison.
In early 2013, the ruling was overturned and a retrial was ordered.