The Ministry of Justice did not give permission to Kuwaiti lawyers to either defend or prosecute ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during his trial, said Minister of Justice Mohamed Abdel Aziz el-Gendy. The Ministry isn't responsible for giving or denying permission, added el-Gendy, “Only the relevant court can be responsible.” El-Gendy told Youm7 that he wasn't aware of the Kuwaiti lawyers until he read about them in the newspapers. “Chancellor Ahmed Refaat is responsible for issuing permissions and the Ministry only promises security permissions afterward,” he said. The Kuwaiti delegation of attorneys who joined the Egyptian lawyers defending the former president sparked significant controversy and consternation between anti-Mubarak and pro-Mubarak demonstrators. A legal battle of words erupted over the legality of the delegation of Kuwati lawyers joining Mubarak's legal team, as the Gulf attorneys are not registered with the Egyptian Syndicate of Lawyers. Official permission to attend the court sessions and defend the former president was obtained from the relevant court body, reported a leader of the Kuwaiti legal team.