On Monday, Egyptian judge Ahmed Refaat declared that the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak would no longer air for the public.
Refaat’s decision is meant to protect the public interest, as Mubarak supporters and detractors clashed while watching day one of the trial. Detractors had already planned to further attack Mubarak supporters on the trial’s second day by throwing rocks at them. Refaat’s speedy decision has left some feeling cheated of their right to public information and questioning whether or not Mubarak will get a fair trial, now that it’s behind closed doors.
While the Egyptian public certainly has the right to information of goings-on within its judicial system, if the trial cannot air without threat of violent retaliation, it’s best that it doesn’t air at all.
While the issue of televising trials is not foreign to the U.S., we’ve often faced the task of deciding whether or not certain information works to benefit the public interest, or simply meets the public’s desire to access any and all information.
The U.S. faced such a debate last spring, over whether or not to publish Osama Bin Laden’s death photo. Many believed that seeing Bin Laden’s body was our right and adhered to the “seeing is believing” policy. Of course, the public has the right to certain information, but are we really entitled to every last detail regarding someone’s death? Ultimately, to the dismay of some, Pres. Obama decided that Bin Laden’s picture would remain confidential and it was a decision well made.
Sometimes when we televise trials, such as the Casey Anthony trial earlier this summer, or show certain photos we create biases, trigger emotion-based reactions or shirk our ethics, for example, leaking Rihanna’s bruised and battered face in 2009 raised ethical questions. The public has a right to information regarding our legal system and our government, but if that information doesn’t strictly benefit the public well being, then they don’t necessarily need to be publicly broadcast.
In the case of the Mubarak trial, Egyptians raise valid points when they say they distrust the courts for blocking the trial. One fear is that turning the cameras off will enable the former leader to get off easy.
Mubarak and his sons are charged with counts of corruption and ordering the killing of unarmed citizens who protested his regime. A guilty ruling could result in Mubarak facing the death penalty. In a country that has been so plagued by corruption and distrust, it makes sense for its citizens to question the motives behind not televising the trial.
In any case, in addition to clashing amongst Mubarak supporters and his opposition, the presence of riot police and violently suggestive tweets from Egyptian activists have created an unstable air about the trial and, whether or not that is the official cause for the ban, pulling the trial from the airwaves will hopefully contribute to calming the public dissatisfaction surrounding it.
The Casey Anthony trial incited commentary from many who simply thought she “looked” guilty, without any sort of legal experience to back up their claims.
Seeing every second of a trial affects the public state of mind. It sets people on edge and they gripe about every suspicious glance or the defendant’s outfits. With Mubarak’s trial, everything’s elevated as people gather outside the courthouse to riot and hurt each other.
Yes, the public has a right to information regarding the trial of Hosni Mubarak, but live broadcasting of the trial may not be the answer-perhaps regular updates could suffice.
Hopefully, barring the trial from broadcasting won’t result in Mubarak skirting a fair trial, which would likely result in many guilty rulings. But until the public can handle viewing it, the trial shouldn’t air live.
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