Egyptian President pledges to pardon protesters

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said Monday, Oct 8 that he would pardon protesters arrested or jailed during and after the uprising that led to the ouster of longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak, according to CNN.

The amnesty covers those who committed crimes "with the aim of supporting the revolution" between January 25, 2011, and June 30, 2012, according to a post on the president's official Facebook page. Morsi assumed office on June 30.

Those accused of premeditated murder were not included in the pardon. But the amnesty covers those who are under investigation, on trial, and those who have already been convicted.

"This is indeed very happy news for all Egyptian revolutionaries," read a post on the "We are All Khaled Said" Facebook page.

The gruesome death of 28-year old Khaled Said allegedly at the hands of Egyptian police stirred an international outcry and prompted the creation of the page by Google executive Wael Ghonim.

The page and Ghonim are credited, among others, with organizing and inspiring the Egyptian revolution that forced Mubarak from office last year.

"The blanket pardon covers all political prisoners and anyone who was arrested and tried during the revolution and the 17 months of transitional rule of the military council. All charges except murder are covered in the pardon including charges of vandalism, resisting arrest, unlawful protests, throwing stones, etc.," read the post on the "We are All Khaled Said" page.

After Mubarak fell, military leaders took over the helm of the country. Before he became president, Morsi was a leader in the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, a popular Islamist movement. He is Egypt's first freely elected president.