The judge trying ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters who toppled his regime ordered a halt to the live broadcast of his trial on August 15 after a chaotic session in which lawyers pushed, shoved and scuffled to get on television. Showing the hearings live on state television had been a nod by Judge Ahmed Rifaat to activists who complained that the military rulers now in charge of the country were dragging their feet bringing Mubarak and stalwarts of his regime to justice. The decision was met with suspicion by Ramadan Ahmed, father of a 16-year-old protester killed during the 18-day uprising that toppled the regime.
Mubarak is the first Arab leader in modern times to be put on trial by his own people, a feat that many see as a warning to authoritarian Arab leaders. Saddam Hussein was tried and hanged after his 2003 ouster, but the proceedings were supervised by US officials. “This is a historic event regardless of whether the trial will be shown live on television or not,” said defence lawyer Khaled Abu Bakr, who represents a wounded protester.