Witness to the Secrets

When I closed the last page of the book "Secrets - Asrar"  by the distinguished journalist and prominent media figure Ahmed Moussa, I realized that I didn't leave the book since I started reading it.

Moussa’s book is not merely pages; it is a documentation of a critical phase in Egypt's history—the period from 2005 to 2025. This era witnessed the intertwining of politics, the judiciary, and the media; a phase filled with secrets we never knew, even though we lived through much of it. Amid these secrets documented by Moussa, I was a direct witness to one of them.

It was during the "Trial of the Century," where the late President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak stood in the defendant’s dock before the North Cairo Criminal Court.

On one of the trial days, my colleague Mohamed El-Tokhy phoned me from inside the courtroom, informing me that an "immediate decision" was required. Counselor Mahmoud Kamel El-Rashidi, the presiding judge of the Trial of the Century, was dissatisfied with the television coverage that focused only on one side of the case while ignoring the defense entirely—something he viewed as a violation of the principles of justice. This followed the initial verdict in June 2012, which had sentenced late President Mubarak and his Minister of Interior to life imprisonment.

The honorable judge’s condition was clear: full and live coverage of the trial without editing or montage, throughout the daily sessions that could last 12 hours or more. The costs were immense: live broadcast vans, a dedicated satellite frequency, and a full production team.

My colleague Amr El-Khayat, the channel’s director at the time, and I contacted Member of Parliament and businessman Mohamed Abu El-Enein, owner of Sada El-Balad channel. He made the decision instantly, without hesitation, despite the political risks and the significant financial burden on the channel.

He said: "For the sake of the truth and to document Egypt’s true history, I agree."

We sent the letter of approval to the court during the same session. By the judge's decree, Sada El-Balad was designated the official broadcaster of the "Trial of the Century." The cameras broadcasted every moment, every discussion, and every word uttered inside the courtroom, live.

I visited the court myself and saw senior state officials, such as Habib El-Adly, Ahmed Nazif, Ismail El-Shaer, and Farid El-Deeb. In that courtroom, I learned what it means for the media to be the voice of the voiceless, and for justice to be transparent and fully visible to the public.

A salute of respect and appreciation goes to MP Mohamed Abu El-Enein for his courage in making that historic decision and bearing its political and financial costs. I also express my appreciation to our colleague Ahmed Moussa and the work team who documented those moments, turning them into a living record of history that enables future generations to see the full truth.