Egypt's revolutionary flame flailing as Mubarak walks free

Social media users in Egypt have lamented Friday's court decision to free autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with some arguing the event marks the end of the Arab Spring.

Over the past six years since the 2011 popular uprising, Mubarak has gone from symbolising the hubris of Middle East dictators swept away by the wave of revolutions to an emblem of dashed hopes.

"In Egypt when someone is released from prison people say that they are 'back on asphalt' or that they have gone through an ordeal in expiation for their misdeeds," a The New Arab Cairo correspondent said.

"Egyptians are now for the first time having to say 'Mubarak is back on asphalt' even though most people were never convinced that he was ever imprisoned in the first place and that he was rather residing in a five-star hospital run by the military," the correspondent, who reports anonymously for fear of retribution from authorities, said.

"Mubarak has now returned to the villa, in which he used to live before he was deposed. It is located a street away from the Presidential Palace. The area is more of a military barracks than a residential zone with heavily-armed security forces guarding all roads leading to the residence," he added.

	Mubarak was ousted in 2011 following unprecedented street protests [Getty]

Mubarak had been cleared for release earlier this month after a top court finally acquitted him of involvement in protester deaths during the 2011 revolt that ousted him.

Mubarak was accused of inciting the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt, in which over 800 people were killed as police violently attempted to crush the demonstrations.

His successor Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist, ruled for only a year after his 2012 election before the military overthrew him, prompted by massive protests against the Muslim Brotherhood, which he headed.

The Arabic-language hashtag #HosniMubarakFreed gained traction on Twitter shortly after the ousted longtime leader left a military hospital where he had been detained for large periods since the 2011 uprising.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he became president again or his son. It's as if there never was a revolution against him. Egyptians get ready there are more letdowns on the way," said one Twitter user.

Another user said: "Unfortunately many Egyptians bask in ignorance and follow their misleading media, which controls them how it wants. They revolted against Mubarak and have now brought him back with their own hands."

One user composed a short poem explaining the situation: "The revolutionaries came out demanding freedom. Hosni went to jail. A president from the revolutionaries was elected then a coup took place. The revolutions went to jail and today Hosni came out."