Introduction

The case against Saad Eddin Ibrahim, one of Egypt's most prominent scholars, is perhaps unique in the history of Egyptian criminal law, unique by virtue of two features: the unparalleled selectivity by the state in its application of the law, and an apparent vendetta against Prof. Ibrahim which is evidenced not only by the vague and seemingly concocted charges brought against him but by the virulent concerted attack on his person in the government press before the trial even began. During the Nasser regime, Dr. Ibrahim would have been simply arrested and thrown in jail for an ind eterminate period without need for any formal proceedings. But times have changed, and the state now cynically cloaks its activities in the trappings of a court procedure, however poorly enacted. And so it came to pass, in October 2000, that Saad Eddin Ibrahim, together with 27 of his associates, was charged with the commission of four crimes.

The case of Prof. Ibrahim and his 27 associates extended for 33 months during which he stood trial twice before two different panels of the State Security Court, and one final trial before the Court of Cassation, Egypt's Supreme Court.

In the following we briefly recap the background of the case and its procedural history then turn to a detailed exposition of the Prosecution's case and that of the Defense, then conclude with a summary of the final ruling of the Court of Cassation on March 18, 2003 which acquitted Prof. Ibrahim and all the other defendants.