Former Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi Sentenced To Death

An Egyptian court has pronounced death sentences on ousted president, Mohammed Morsi and more than 100 other people over a mass prison break in 2011. Morsi is already serving a 20-year prison term for ordering the arrest and torture of protesters while in power. Egypt's religious authorities will now have to give their opinion before the sentence can be carried out. Morsi's supporters from his Muslim Brotherhood movement have described the charges against him as "farcical".

He was deposed by the military in July 2013 following mass street protests against his rule. Since then, the authorities have banned the Muslim Brotherhood and arrested thousands of his supporters.

Inside the dock, Morsi and members of his Muslim Brotherhood group chanted, "Down with military rule!" after the judge read out his ruling against him. The judge's request for the death sentence in connection with the jailbreak case was referred to the grand mufti, a high religious cleric, for ratification.

However, the mufti's recommendation is not binding. Even if he advises against the death sentence, the judge can still go ahead with it. The Brotherhood issued a statement condemning the sentence and called for an escalation of protests.

But the tight security grip in Egypt means that it is highly unlikely to see mass demonstrations. Hundreds of Brotherhood supporters are already behind bars, while others are keeping a low profile for fear of a crackdown.

Source: BBC Africa