There is a story floating around the internet, acting like a proverbial turd in a punch bowl. As always, it is next to impossible to sort out what is truth and what is simply propaganda. That being said, today we found online that Mubarak allegedly believes that Morsi is innocent and deserved better treatment.

The story circulating on sites like Middle East Monitor and Al Hourriah is that actor Talaat Zakaria claims Mubarak told him during a recent visit that "I feel sorry for Morsi because he is oppressed. I spent three unpleasant years in prison myself. But, I am confident in the Egyptian judiciary. I believe Morsi did not rule Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Office ruled Egypt.”

Mubarak allegedly continues saying: "The Brotherhood could not understand that Morsi became President of the Republic and treat him their [as] inferior and this is what ended his rule so quickly," it was reported Mubarak told Zakaria.

As for Mubarak's own aspirations, Zakaria claims that Mubarak said “I wish to become a regular Egyptian citizen. I want to cancel my president's pension because it is not enough for my needs and the needs of my family. I will request to have my pension from the armed forces because when my military career ended I was ranked first team and this is much better than the pension of the president".

Apparently during their meeting the two didn't discuss the race for Egypt's new president, but Zakaria believes Mubarak favours the army man. The only other claim to be made from their supposed meeting is that Mubarak has no intention to apologise for his period of rule.

The sad underlying story, and the reason we have chosen to write about this, is to highlight the fact that anything and everything is allegedly being said. We aren't sure how widespread this story has gotten, but we encourage readers to challenge the news, as all to often what is being reported is nothing but hearsay and lies. Which category does this story fall into? Well, that is for you to decide, but as far as we are concerned hearsay is not evidence, and as such should not be taken seriously until backed by facts. It is this blatant disregard for evidence that explains why 1.5 million Egyptians were fooled into believing that Egypt was opening a strip club.