The Mubarak trial: Justice or revenge?

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 83, who is reportedly suffering from cancer, was wheeled into a Cairo courtroom on a hospital bed on Wednesday, to face charges of engaging in corruption and ordering the killing of protesters during the 18-day uprising against his reign. He denied the allegations "categorically." If found guilty, the frail octogenarian, who ruled Egypt for 30 years, could face the death penalty. What does Mubarak's trial mean for Egypt's future?

This is a crucial test in Egypt's transformation: Millions of Egyptians are accustomed to seeing Mubarak portrayed on TV as a nearly divine figure, says Leila Fadel in The Washington Post. They'll now watch, via live broadcast, as he faces justice in the defendant's cage. The high-drama proceedings will also be "an important test of a judicial system that was once subservient" to the toppled leader, and give us a glimpse of how much reform the Arab Spring has really brought about.

"Mubarak trial a 'decisive moment' for Egypt"

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But will Egyptians get justice, or just revenge? Democratic reforms in Egypt could get a boost if the trial offers a "comprehensive airing of Mubarak's sordid, authoritarian legacy," says Thanassis Cambanis at The Atlantic. But if "we see a perfunctory inquest and speedy, shallow trial," the nation won't get true justice — just revenge against the despot. And such an expedient victory won't help Egypt's reformers further their cause.

"Mubarak's trial could be a sign of what's to come for Egypt's future democracy"

Just seeing Mubarak in the dock is a victory: Of course, the result of the trial will be hugely important, says Alastair Beach at The Daily Beast. But many Egyptians were skeptical they would ever see this day, even after protests ended Mubarak's 30 years in power. Egypt is "the Arab world's most important country," and Wednesday's court appearance marked "an unprecedented fall from grace in a region not known for bringing many of its manifold autocrats to heel." That in itself is a win for protesters.

"Mubarak faces the music"

But the trial imperils Egypt's fragile peace, too: This is "a dangerous time to bring Hosni Mubarak to justice," says Jeffrey Fleishman at the Los Angeles Times. No matter how the trial goes, it could threaten Egypt's stability. On the one hand, the military council that replaced him can't afford to let too many damning government secrets emerge in case the council gets discredited. On the other, "any move that appears to allow Mubarak to slip from justice is sure to provoke an outraged backlash."

"Upcoming Mubarak trial a prism for Egypt's contending passions"