The last pharaoh

The Egyptians are getting quite into the habit of making history. From conducting the peaceful revolution that ousted a strongman firmly glued to his seat for 30 years, to conducting their first free and fair presidential elections as a fledgling democracy, to convicting the dictator who subjected them to some of the worst ignominies imaginable not least of them being denied their basic rights. Revolutionary fervour has not yet let up its grip on the nation and its imagination as was evident from the judgment. In a judgment that was more political than legal, the judge gave a preamble detailing the dark days under the dictator and praising the revolution that dislodged him.
The people were quick to welcome the judgment. A little too quick, in fact. After the initial positive reception, now there are widespread protests in the country that feel the judgment to be a copout. While few expected or wanted the octogenarian to be condemned to the gallows rather than to the slammer, they did expect him to be held fully accountable. Many are griping that the erstwhile autocrat has been convicted on a lesser charge (of which he might be acquitted when he appeals the sentence). He is yet to be brought to book for the persecution of millions and intemperate corruption. Another critique levied is that his military and intelligence officers have been acquitted of their charges because they were doing what they were commanded too. This could affect the contours of future state power as this might be seen as giving to impunity to the interior ministry for aggression.
Also, only history can judge whether the fact that this judgment was unabashedly political is a good thing. The power matrix is yet to be defined in this nascent democracy and there are many power epicentres: the parliament, the president, the judiciary, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. The shift of power to unelected institutions could be dangerous in the long run. We can very well relate to that. Unfortunately what we cannot relate to is holding our aggressors accountable. Egyptians right now are protesting not the fact that the dictator wasn’t punished but that he wasn’t punished enough. While we here in our hapless republic still wait for any of our past dictators to be even brought to the dock. It is not an option for a nascent democracy to be forgiving of its culprits. Turkey, and now Egypt, has taught us that. We would do well to learn.