MUBARAKTRIAL societal perceptions of justice served -

Abstract

Establishing a sense of justice in post-conflict or revolutionary societies is a necessary step in rebuilding trust and accountability between citizens and the state, as well as attempting to mend the social fabric of society. This research study will use content analysis methods to assess tweets with the hash tag: MubarakTrialcoming out of Egypt between June 3-8, 2012, the week following the announcement of ex-President Hosni Mubarak’s verdict and sentencing. The purpose of this study is to determine if the Egyptian Twitter community perceives a sense ofjustice through the prosecution of Mubarak, and whether they lay claims for other mechanisms of transitional justiceto facilitate the transition from this volatile revolutionary period to stable and accountable governance. Across the Middle East, the Arab Uprisings of 2011 have overthrown or challenged authoritarian regimes, while economically and politically destabilizing states in the process of attempting to create a new, more just and transparent system. As these societies undergo their respective revolutions and reconstruction processes, the need for justice for the former victims and society as a whole becomes urgent. However, achieving justice is a complex process that can be assisted through the different mechanisms of transitional justice to reintegrate and rebuild a new society, establishing a lasting peace. The decision to try former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for crimes perpetrated during the Egyptian Revolution, including ordering the killing of protestors and accepting bribes, set a precedent in the Arab world, as Mubarak is the first Arab head of state to be put on trial during the Arab Spring, and is the only other Arab President to ever be tried, along with Saddam Hussein. Although prosecution can be an appropriate mechanism of establishing justice, it is helpful to assess if society perceives it as such, and supplement the prosecution of Mubarak with other mechanisms of transitional justice in order to fulfill society’s rec