Egyptian actor Talaat Zakaria said he spoke to former president Hosni Mubarak over the phone to give support to the ousted autocrat regarding the announcement of his verdict.
During the call, Mubarak expressed his happiness on the verdict to the actor, but “still feels so tired.”
In his statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Zakria said: “I was expecting the acquittal and am so glad with the equity final verdict of the court because I said so three years ago. I was sure of the equity of history to him.”
Zakaria’s words came as no surprise. The Egyptian comedian is known for his unwavering support of ousted president and his 30-year regime along with heavy criticism of the revolutionaries.
During the 18-day revolt in 2011, Zakaria drew criticism for comments saying he believes the army could disperse millions of allegedly “non-Egyptian” protestors from Tahrir Square in the blink of an eye. “If one shell from a tank was fired in the air, all the non-Egyptian cowards would run and hand themselves in,” he said.
Additionally, his brutal accusations against protesters, calling them “a gang of drug abusers and homosexuals,” put him at the top of the ‘blacklist’ comprising a strew of other celebrities and media personalities who underestimated the power of 2011 uprising to overthrow the old regime.
Zakaria plans to pay a visit to the ousted president during the next couple of days for offering congratulations upon his acquittal.
The Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday acquitted jailed ex-president, his interior minister Habib al-Adly, and six other former security officials from charges of murdering protesters during the 2011 uprising that forced Mubarak out of office.
