'A farce... down with the rule of the junta'

Standing as near as she was allowed to Tahrir Square, the mother of Mostafa Ragab, the first victim of the January revolution, gave her own verdict on Hosni Mubarak.

"Allah alone is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs," said Kawthar, the mother of Mostafa Ragab, as tears streamed down her face. "My faith in God is strong, and God will do my son justice."

Her appeal came after the Cairo criminal court acquited Mubarak, his two sons, the former interior minister Habeeb El-Adly, and a number of Mubarak's aides, of the murder of hundreds of civilians in the 2011 revolution, and corruption during their time in power.

The judge will one day die, and the army's protection will be of no use to him.  - Husam Bakir

It was a sentiment shared by those around her on Sunday who had been blocked by police from entering Tahrir Square, the centre of Egypt's revolutionary movements.

Husam Bakir, the brother of Ziad, who was also killed in the revolution, was more forthright: "The verdict against Mubarak will not make any difference, whether it was a death sentence, acquittal, or deferment.

"The judge will one day die, and the army's protection will be of no use to him."

A large number of them did not hesitate to march toward the Abdul-Munim Riad Square on the outskirts of Tahrir, where they shouted slogans against the current regime, and protested at Mubarak's acquittal.

They shouted: "A farce, a farce, and the gang is the same, is the same," and "down with the rule of the junta".

In an attempt to recall the victims, some demonstrators cited their names. They include:

Ahmed Basyouni, 21, "the artist of the revolution", killed on 28 January 2011, known as the Friday of Wrath. The father of two and an assistant teacher at the Art College in the University of Helwan was shot dead and then run over by an armored vehicle. His family was forced to sign an document giving up all rights and entitlements in return for his body.

Ziyad Bakir, 37, a painter and graphic designer, shot dead on 28 January 2011. It took his family 40 days to find his body. It had been registered in the name of another person and was finally identifed by DNA.

Mostafa al-Sawi, 26, known as "the imam of the revolution", held afternoon prayer on Qasr al-Nil bridge on 28 January 2011. Sawi was shot dead in a surprise attack shortly afterwards.

Nasser Oweis, 34, a computer engineer, was shot in the head twice on 3 February 2011 in the "Battle of the Camels", when security forces on camels and horseback charged protesters in Tahrir Square.

Mostafa Ragab, 20, considered the first victim of the January revolution,  was killed on 25 January 2011 in the Suez Governorate.

This is an edited translation of the original Arabic.