Why is Hosni Mubarak in a cage?

I dunno. I have also seen pics and clips from a Russian trial and the accused was also in a cage. Could be a way to degrade him.

The sources I just checked ( here’s one ) say that it’s a standard procedure for criminal trials in Egypt.

I remember the same thing in a fact-based movie I saw that included a courtroom scene in Italy.

Here’s a more or less random blog comment about the practice from a year ago, nothing to do with the present trial.

Wondered the same thing myself yesterday. I don’t symphatize with him personally but as @Jeruba posted, it’s standard procedure and they don’t want to be seen as doing him any favors. It may feel odd to us since we are not familiar with these kinds of images.

Italian tradition of the judicial system.