Egypt prosecutor to appeal dropping of Mubarak charges
Move comes after court ended murder trial against ousted former president over deaths of protesters in 2011
CAIRO — Egypt’s public prosecutor said Tuesday it would appeal a court ruling that dropped a murder charge against ex-president Hosni Mubarak over the deaths of protesters during the country’s 2011 uprising.
“The prosecutor general has decided to appeal,” it said in a statement, after a Cairo court on Saturday ordered the dropping of murder and corruption charges against Mubarak, who ruled for three decades until being driven from office and is serving a three-year sentence in a separate graft case.
The charges were over the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended Mubarak’s rule.
Seven of his security commanders, including feared former interior minister Habib al-Adly, were also acquitted over the deaths of some of the roughly 800 people killed during the revolt.
Corruption charges against Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal were also dropped.
During the 2011 uprising, hundreds of thousands of people protested daily, demanding that Mubarak step down. After he resigned they continued to stage demonstrations, insisting that he face trial.
More than 1,000 protesters demonstrated against Saturday’s verdict at an entrance to Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the hub of the anti-Mubarak revolt, and were dispersed by police firing tear gas.
Dozens of people were also arrested but later freed.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.