Following our grief with the verdicts issued in another Minya court case, embellished phrases like "No comment on court verdicts," "Values of law state," and "Trust in the judiciary," etc, become only usable on satellite channels uttered from the elite's mouths.

In most cases, it won't succeed in persuading the few in satellite channel studios, nevermind millions of other citizens … As for the reaction of ordinary Egyptians, it is totally spontaneous and does not know complicated calculations in situations such as this.

Their spontaneous calculations will drive them compellingly to make comparisons one after the other between the speed in issuing the verdicts in the Muslim Brotherhood cases and the slowness in the cases of killing the January revolution demonstrators and of the symbols of corruption during Mubarak's rule.

They will compare, in a totally natural manner, between those who received acquittals while testimonies were against them and issuing collective execution verdicts towards hundreds against whom it is impossible logically and realistically that a single testimony will be available.

The warning of not commenting on court verdicts will not commit a grieving mother of five convicted sons to silence, will not frighten youths whose hearts are filled with desperation, and will not preserve security shattered by contention and infighting. It will not even succeed in calming the anxiety of millions of Egyptians for whom the Minya verdict increased their confusion.

The Minya verdicts aren't the first to make Egyptians grieve because of the judiciary during the past three years, and especially the last eight months. It seems it won't be the last. In the majority of the cases, it didn't bring back a right, and neither stopped terrorism nor deterred the unjust. What is even worse is that it blew every possible effort inside and outside to regain balance and make those who want to drag Egyptians towards chaos unable to do so.

Few people can defend or justify such verdicts. On the other hand, the majority does not have a choice but to criticise the verdicts. Driven first with its natural rejection of injustice and abhorrence to go along with it; second, with its concern for the future of this country and its fear of a social rupture whose manifestations get steeper day after day.

I'll remind the judge in this life with the saying of the Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him), for he divided the judges into three, two of which will go to hell. You, judge, are judging in this worldly life, see what's appealing to yourself from these divisions and choose for yourself, for now it is your choice; as for tomorrow you will be questioned about its result.

He said: "The judges are three: Two judges that are in the Fire and a judge that is in Paradise. A judge who judges with the truth, that is the one in Paradise. A man who judges without the truth, and he knows that. This one is in the Fire. One who judges while not knowing, ruining the rights of the people. So he is in the Fire."

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/100426.aspx