In the context of the angry reactions to former President Hosni Mubarak’s recorded short speech aired by Al Arabiya news channel on Sunday, Egyptian writers and law experts called for an investigation of his word, saying that it was contrary to the current legal status of the fact that Mubarak and his family are under house arrest.
Atef Al-Banna, a law professor member of the Constitutional Amendments Assembly, called upon Al Arabiya to promptly investigate the circumstances of this speech.
“Mubarak is a citizen facing charges so he should not make any statements outside the scope of investigations, and if he wants to exonerate himself of any charges he must do this in front of the General Prosecutor with the documents that prove that he is not guilty,” said Al-Banna according to al-Shorouk newspaper.
“He has no right to assign any official institute in Egypt either written or orally to explore the truth about what they accuse him, he does not have the powers to do it, and that is what came in the speech or audio recording worth investigation and those who caused his appearance in this way to the masses should be punished,” he added.
Diaa Rashwan, an expert in Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, said “the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ruling the country should disclose who allowed the airing of this audio recording at this time, specifically while it is assumed that the former president is under house arrest, and must punish those who allowed it.
“Al Arabiya channel singled out two things in the course of political history of the Egyptian revolution; the first is its interview with Ahmed Ezz earlier, and then later Mubarak’s speech, which came in a time when the Egyptian revolution is in a state of boiling. These two events are damaging the credibility of the channel as it does not only have a professional role, but also a political one,” said Rashwan.
Mohamed Abdelaziz El Gendy Minister of Justice announced that no one is above the law; and that Mubarak and his family will face their charges in front of the Illicit Gains Authority unless Mubarak’s health does not permit this.
According to El Gendy, if Mubarak’s illness was proved, a team will be sent to him to take the necessary legal measures with him, pointing out that Mubarak has submitted his financial disclosure while his two sons, Gamal and Alaa did not submit theirs to date. El Gendy confirmed that the elder Mubarak, Suzanne Mubarak and their two sons will face corruption accusations.
“This audio recording of former President proves that he is not sick and that any slowdown in his interrogation in Cairo will be an error of law from the Attorney General and a political slip-up as well,” said Rashwan.
Columnist Mustafa Bakri, editor in chief of “The Week” newspaper, former People’s Assembly Member, and the one behind accusing Mubarak with inflation in his and his sons’ wealth said “The former president’s speech was to elicit the sympathy of the Egyptian masses, as is the norm since the revolution, and we will not be fooled again with emotions.”
Bakri called upon the former president to disclose the bank accounts in foreign countries that he managed to smuggle out of Egypt during the two months of silence, “Also he did not deny his childrens’ wealth so he should tell us how much it is and how they acquired them.”
Amr Hamzawy, a political science professor at Cairo University and a political activist stated that former president should be subjected to a routine legal trial without resorting to any form of exceptional courts. “Any former official, including Mubarak, should have all his legal rights during the process of accountability,” he added.
While Hossam Essa, a member of the Legal Committee to recover the wealth of Egyptians told Al Arabiya that Mubarak delivered a speech in the same tone in which he used in his former speeches before he stepped down, trying to remind the people of his achievements and to play on the emotions of the citizens.
He wondered who defends Mubarak if all his men and state codes are in prisons for trial on charges of influence-peddling and illegal profiteering. Essa questioned his ability to talk about clearing his patent; he is largely responsible about what was happening at the time.
In a phone call to “Our country by Egyptian” (Baladna belMasri) program hosted by Reem Majid, Ahmed Okasha President of the Scientific Society of Psychiatry said that Mubarak’s speech is nothing but a naive and desperate attempt to influence the emotions of the Egyptians.
Moreover, Al-Tagammu Party announced a statement wording that in principal they believe it’s everyone’s right to take a full chance to defend himself against all accusations although they see him responsible for what took place during his presidency; yet, the party questioned the timing of the speech and why it was delayed until now.
The party said that the choice of a non-Egyptian channel raises many questions unless he tried to air it on Egyptians channels but banned.
Okasha also questioned the reason behind the selection of a Saudi Arabian channel in particular to broadcast this message at this time.
On Al Arabiya’s behalf, Naser EL Seramy Media director for Al Arabiya told Egyptian private channel “Al Hayat” that Al Arabiya requested from Mubarak and his family through intermediaries to make an on-air confrontation in the form of an interview similar to Ezz’s; however, the recorded tape was the response they received for their request and they had to air it as an exclusive news for the channel.
On the other hand Revolution Youth Coalition said that the trial of the former president along with his two sons and all the symbols of the former regime should be held in the fastest time, and that as long as he welcomes the investigation, he should appear before the legal bodies.
The Coalition also demanded that the movement of money during the last period should be detected pointing out that they would issue a statement in this regard during the coming hours.