The Free Egyptians Party said Sunday it is “shocked and frustrated” with the verdicts in former President Hosni Mubarak’s criminal trial, warning of their serious impact on the revolution and aspirations of Egyptians for establishing justice and cleansing the country of corruption.
A court on Saturday convicted Mubarak, 84, and ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly of failing to stop the killing of about 850 protesters during last year’s uprising. They were sentenced to 25 years in prison.
However, the court acquitted six top police commanders charged with ordering the killings. Ahmed Refaat, the judge who presided over the case, criticized the prosecution for failing to provide evidence that police killed protesters.
Mubarak and his two sons were acquitted of corruption charges because the statute of limitations on them had expired.
The ruling sparked outrage across the country. Protesters took to the streets, furious that no one had been found directly guilty of killing the protesters.
Free Egyptians Party, a secular party that has 15 seats in Parliament, called in a statement for the establishment of revolutionary tribunals to thwart attempts to reproduce the former regime.
The party said prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence against Mubarak, but at the same time condemned attempts by certain political forces to exploit the verdicts for personal political gains.
“The matter at this historic moment, awaiting a new president and a new constitution, is beyond judicial provisions,” the statement said, calling on the people to have their say.
