The prominent figure during Egypt's 2013 political crisis is back in the limelight. This time, former President Mohammed Morsi has some reason to celebrate as his country's magistrate shot down the sentence that would have put him behind bars for the rest of his life.
It will be the second time that a court has struck a verdict against the former leader who had faced the death penalty in an earlier hearing.
The development has provided a ray of hope for thousands of supporters who had been charged in haste by virtue of their involvement with the ousted leader. It can be recalled that mass trails have been held in response to the burgeoning protests against the Egyptian military who took over shortly after Morsi was overthrown.
Members of the political organization Muslim Brotherhood, who figured obtrusively during the rallies, have also shared the fate of the famed politician. Due to the branding of the group as a terrorist faction, people affiliated with it have been meted with heavy punishments.
In view of the faulty rulings of Egyptian courts, current President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated that the nation's judiciary has always been independent. He adds that the government does not influence the magistrates in any way.
The ensuing months after the ousting of Morsi have shown a troubling crackdown. Numerous individuals connected with the Brotherhood have been arrested and immediately sentenced. Security troops have also dispersed protesters violently.
Around this time, the situation that hounded former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 is still fresh. With chaos still ruling after that uprising, judges have openly targeted Islamists who were apparently behind the unfortunate turn of events. Police reports supplemented by undisclosed sources have been used as evidences during court hearings.
The Court of Cassation, which is comprised of members selected by the experienced and highly-respected Supreme Judicial Council, has been prominent in overturning penalties for previous cases.
According to Gamal Eid, a popular lawyer and the founder of the Arabic Network of Human Right, the present rulings have shown that earlier court decisions were fuelled mainly by political vengeance.
