Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Jama’a al-Islamiya and Salafi groups have declared that they will never relinquish their claims for justice regarding the imprisonment and torture they suffered under the Mubarak regime.
“Mubarak kept me in prison ten additional years after the end of my term in 2001,” said Jama'a al-Islamiya Shura Council member Tarek al-Zommor, contending that the charges leveled at Mubarak did not match the seriousness of his actual crimes.
Essam al-Eryan, vice president of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, said the party had not taken part in protests in front of the courtroom. “We don’t interfere in the judiciary’s business, as we respect its independence,” he said. “Mubarak must have a fair trial.”
“It seems Mubarak’s ailing health condition was exaggerated,” said party executive committee member Azab Mostafa. “He looked alright to me.”
Azab also said that former Muslim Brotherhood MP Akram al-Shaer attended the trial as a plaintiff for his son, who was shot 25 times during the revolution and had to undergo five operations in Germany.
“More than 15,000 group members were sentenced to more than 300,000 years in prison under Mubarak,” Azab said.
Nour Party spokesman Mohamed Yousry said Mubarak persecuted many party members. “We’ll sue him for that in good time,” he said. “Let’s see this case’s verdict first.”
Adel Afify, president of the Salafi Asala Party, said postponing Mubarak’s trial may reignite demonstrations.
Mohamed Alaa Abul Azayem, founder of the Sufi Egyptian Liberation Party, said Mubarak’s trial is a warning for Egypt’s future rulers.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
