Morsi decree pardons protesters

CAIRO – Egypt’s new president on Monday issued a decree pardoning all those charged with or convicted of acts “in support of the revolution” since the beginning of the popular uprising that forced his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, from power.

The move by Mohammed Morsi was long demanded by Egypt’s youth groups behind the uprising. It could potentially benefit more than 1,000 protesters currently on trial following their arrests during demonstrations since the uprising against Mubarak erupted on Jan. 25, 2011, and until Morsi was sworn in on June 30.

Those already convicted for their role in the protests may also be pardoned. Most of those on trial or convicted were detained during the rule of the generals who took over after Mubarak stepped down in February 2011.

Mohammed Gadallah, Morsi’s legal adviser, said the decree is “one of the revolution’s most important victories.”

However, the wording of the decree is vague and doesn’t immediately set anyone free, according to several human rights lawyers. It asks the prosecutor general and the military prosecutor to prepare a list of names, within a month of the decree’s issuance, of those who may benefit from the pardon.

The first article of the decree, which was published on Morsi’s official Facebook page, orders a “comprehensive pardon for crimes and misdemeanors or attempts to commit them in support of the revolution and the realization of its goals.”

The only suspects exempted from the decree are those charged with premeditated murder over that time period.

“It is a great step, but not enough,” said Ahmed Seif, a member of the committee formed by Morsi to review cases of those tried following the uprising. He said he had advised Morsi to specify who would benefit from the pardon.

Gadallah said the decree is likely to cover all major court cases where protesters clashed with military troops and security forces. However, he admitted it is not clear how many would benefit from the pardon.

Protesters currently on trial face charges ranging from resisting authorities, damaging public or private property or disrupting public order. More than a 12,000 civilians have been brought before military tribunals, many of them on charges such as “thuggery.”