CAIRO — Controversy prevailed in Egypt following the official military funeral Feb. 26 for former President Hosni Mubarak, who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly three decades.
He was ousted by the January 25 Revolution, when millions of Egyptians swarmed the streets to take down his regime. Yet, at his funeral, he was portrayed as a hero worthy of honor, as artillery fired 21 rounds to salute the deceased autocrat. A horse-drawn carriage transported his coffin, which was draped in the Egyptian flag. Amid a backdrop of military music, soldiers carried floral wreaths and the military decorations obtained by Mubarak throughout his military service.