By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine

Under the influence of panic and vengeance, an Egyptian "court" on Saturday issued multiple death sentences against dozens of people affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Among the convicted are Muhammed Mursi, the only democratically-elected president in Egypt's entire history, Dr. Sheikh Yosef al Karadawi, one of the most learned living Muslim scholars and author of more than 60 books, and many other intellectuals, university professors and community leaders. The court also passed the capital punishment against several Palestinians affiliated with the Hamas liberation group including Hasan Salameh, held in Israeli jails for the past 19 years, and is serving a jail term of 48 life sentences plus 20 years for resisting the Israeli occupation.

The Egyptian court also passed the death penalty against Raed al Attar, who was killed during Israel's last summer war on Gaza, and Hussam al Saneh', killed in the earlier Israeli war on the coastal enclave in 2008.

The passing of these draconian sentences on basically innocent and honorable people, whose only guilt is their election victory in defiance of the deep Egyptian state, are theatrical in shape and political in nature.

They also illustrate the panic and insecurity overwhelming the coup junta in Cairo especially in light of unrelenting violent insurrection against the regime in all parts of Egypt.

Trying the dead

The passing of death sentences on deceased people may reflect the hastiness and lack of professionalism characterizing court proceeding. It also reflects the mental depravity and brutal ugliness of the ruling junta.

One American friend commented on the rulings, saying that Egypt has become a pariah, a political cesspool.

"The more the 'leaders' of that country engage in these types of actions the more painful will be the ultimate response. Egypt here is on the wrong side of history."

Of course, it is extremely hard to speak of the Egyptian justice system in honorable terms. A veteran whore is likely to have more honor and more integrity than the corrupt Egyptian judiciary, operated by mostly ignorant, and dishonest judges carrying instructions from the Sissi gang.

In fact, today’s rulings underscore the nadir level to which the Egyptian justice system has reached.

Needless to say, it is quite difficult for any state to prosper with a corrupt justice system. This is unfortunately the destiny of Egypt under the thuggish military coup. And the upcoming days and months will be even more difficult.

It is indeed sad that a manifestly ignorant judge, who can hardly speak a complete Arabic sentence correctly, is able to pass death sentences on professors, scholars and intellectuals who spent the prime of their lives serving the Umma.

But this is the Sissi's era where the traitors and ignoramuses are in the driver's seat while the crème de le crème of society are behind bars, languishing in dungeons and detention camps.

This is the age of Ruwaibidhah, mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad in one the prophetic traditions:

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, "The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be on him) said: There will come years filled with lies, deception and treachery that afflict people, in these years, those who speak lies will be believed, and those who tell the truth will not be believed. Mandate is given to the treacherous, dishonest person. And Ruwaibidhah will speak for the people. 'One person said: Oh Prophet of Allah, what is Ruwaibidhah? The Prophet replied: 'A fool assigned to speak for the people.'"

-###-

Khalid Amayreh