Mubarak Becomes A Ringtone
Egypt enjoys hearing 'pharaoh in a cage' deny everything.
Aug. 4, 2011
CAIRO — -- For Egyptians who want the glee of seeing former President Hosni Mubarak lying in a hospital bed in his courtroom cage to last a bit longer, they can now carry it with them on their cell phones.
Ringtones of the few low, growly words the deposed leader spoke at the start of his trial on Wednesday are now available for download courtesy of a website that has posted three different versions.
The first is the judge calling on Mubarak by his full name -- Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak -- followed by Mubarak responding, "I am here, your honor."
Another has Mubarak's response to the charges of corruption and complicity in the murder of around 850 protesters during the 18-day revolution that led to his downfall:
"I categorically deny all the charges."
The newspaper Al Ahram reports that the ringtones have become popular among Egyptians.
Egypt and much of the Middle East was stunned Wednesday to see the once all-powerful Mubarak sent to Cairo from his hospital in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh for his trial. Many assumed he would never tried or at the very least be able to avoid a court appearance with a health excuse.
But he was helicoptered into the police academy where the trial is being held at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, and shortly thereafter wheeled into the now-famous iron cage.
A sampling of headlines in Egypt on Thursday read, "Pharaoh in the Cage: Yes Your Honor, I Am Here," "An Example to the Next Ruler," and "Mubarak in the Hands of Justice."
Mubarak had not been seen since a defiant February 10 speech in which he refused to step down. His next court appearance will be August 15.