Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
An Egyptian woman holds a picture of former president Hosni Mubarak outside the police academy where he was sentenced to life imprisonment on Saturday

Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was on Saturday sentenced to life in prison after a court in Cairo found him guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during a popular uprising against his 30-year rule last year.

Click NEXT to read further...

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
An Egyptian celebrates after a court sentenced deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to life in prison at Tahrir Square in Cairo
The 84-year-old ailing former dictator, who was wheeled into the courtroom, got life imprisonment along with his former interior minister Habib al-Adly.

Six former police commanders were acquitted by the court, which also dropped corruption charges against Mubarak's two sons Alaa and Gamal.

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
Egyptians react after the court sentence
Over 800 protesters had been killed during the 18-day revolt following which Mubarak was ousted on February 11, 2011.

Handing down the sentence to Mubarak and al-Adly, Judge Ahmed Refaat said that the 10-month trial had been a fair one. He said Egyptian people had suffered 30 years of darkness under Mubarak's rule.

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
Relatives of people who died during Egypt's revolutions hug each other after the sentencing
The interior ministry had taken special measures to secure the premises of the court, where the trial had taken place.The wall around the police academy in New Cairo, a satellite city around the capital, had been raised to four metres in addition to another metre of barbed wire.

The court had also refused to issue any new permits to cover the trial and kept the coverage exclusive for state-owned TV.

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
An Egyptian man celebrates after the verdict on Mubarak

After the verdict was announced, scuffles between rival groups erupted in the court.

Punches were thrown as victims' family members protested the verdict inside the court. Others stood on chairs, raising fists in the air and chanting the sentence was not enough, CNN reported.

Hosni Mubarak gets life term, Egypt celebrates

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST
Egyptians celebrate outside the police academy where Mubarak was on trial

An ailing Mubarak, who spent much of his time during the trial on a mobile bed, and the judge were removed from the courtroom amid the melee.

Outside there were celebrations, with many chanting "God is greatest." Soha Saeed, the wife of one of those killed in the uprising that toppled Mubarak on February 11, 2011, shouted: "I'm so happy. I'm so happy."


TOP photo features of the week

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 15:38 IST

Click on MORE to see another set of PHOTO features...

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.