Egypt's Minister of Justice, Ahmed Mekki, has confirmed that although some former military leaders in the Egyptian army were awarded medals by Egypt, it would not prevent their prosecution if found guilty. Mekki said in a press statement," although the Counselor Abdel Moaz Ibrahim who is the former head of the Cairo Court of Appeal was awarded the Medal of the Republic, this will not prevent his persecution if he was found guilty in the ongoing case of foreign funding.” The Minister of Justice added that although some military leaders were awarded medals, it would not prevent their prosecution if they were convicted. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi who is the former head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the former defence minister was awarded the Grand Collar of the Nile, while Sami Annan his deputy was awarded the Medal of the Republic at the beginning of this month. Political activists have demanded the trial of Tantawi and his deputy Annan, on the events that occurred in Egypt; and especially the Maspero clashes, since the SCAF became responsible of the country's affairs in the February 11, 2011, following the resignation of former president Hosni Mubarak.