Hosni Mubarak Will Be Released From Prison
Egypt is preparing to release deposed leader Hosni Mubarak from prison on Thursday after a court ruled to overturn his conviction on corruption charges.
Mubarak was toppled in early 2011 during the uprisings that swept the Arab world, often called the Arab Spring. Along with Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and other nations overthrew their leaders.
But with Egypt in turmoil after deposing its first democratically elected leader, Mubarak’s release could add to the tensions, reports Reuters.
In an attempt to satisfy critics of the decision, the prime minister’s office announced that Mubarak will be placed under house arrest once he is allowed out of prison in Cairo.
It is likely, according to reports, that the 85-year-old former military man will be transported to one of the state’s vital installations, or to a military hospital, where he will be guarded.
The former leader, who ruled Egypt for more than 30 years, was sentenced to life in prison last summer for failing to prevent hundreds of demonstrators from being killed by security forces.
However, his appeal was granted and he will face a retrial soon. The Washington Post notes that, as a condition of his release, the court ordered Hosni Mubarak to return or pay the value of gifts he received from state news organizations during his time in office. His assets will also remain frozen for the time being.
While he will be released, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry explained that Mubarak will have to return to court for his remaining judicial proceedings.
There is no way for the prosecution to appeal the decision to release Mubarak either. They stated that the court’s decision to release the former leader is final. While it is highly unlikely Mubarak will try to participate in politics again, his release makes critics uncomfortable.
Hosni Mubarak’s release also comes at a delicate time, as the military is again in control of Egypt after President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown.
[Image via Vasily Smirnov / Shutterstock.com]
