Mubarak Potentially Facing the Death Penalty

Via The Wire, this from CNN:

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could be executed if he is convicted of ordering the killing of protesters, Egypt's justice minister says. "One of the charges he is facing is complicity in the killing of martyrs and issuing the orders for premeditated the killing of those people," said Justice Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz al-Juindy. "This is a charge with a harsh punishment -- the death penalty." 

In his first television interview since taking office, the new justice minister said last week that Egyptian courts would not shy away from sentencing Mubarak to death if he is found guilty. 

"If the crime is proven, then the court will not hesitate to issue the death sentence," he said. "A judge may have mercy if there is a reason for that, but I don't think in this case there is any argument for clemency whatsoever," the minister added, calling it "a horrible crime, to kill 800 citizens who were asking for their rights and hoping to topple a corrupt regime that caused the ruin of Egypt."

I'm opposed to the death penalty. More than I'd like to see Muburak exempted from it, I'd like to see Egypt consider abolishing it. Not the United States is any position to give lectures.

It always amazes me when dictators hang around. I think I know why they do.