Former Egyptian president Morsi, Al-Jazeera journalists jailed
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 18 June 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Former Egyptian president Morsi, Al-Jazeera journalists jailed, 18 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43bdd23.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 18, 2016
An Egyptian court has sentenced former President Muhammad Morsi to 25 years in prison in an espionage trial in which six others – including two Al-Jazeera journalists – were sentenced to death.
Morsi was acquitted by the court on June 18 of most of the charges of providing Qatar with classified documents but convicted of leading an unlawful organization, said his lawyer, Abdel Moneim Abdel Maksud.
Morsi was also convicted of having stolen "secret documents concerning state security" and given an additional 15-year jail term.
Considered Egypt's first democratically elected president, Morsi was overthrown in a military coup in 2013, one year after he assumed his post.
Qatar was a main backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement when he was in office.
The Al-Jazeera employees were identified as news producer Alaa Omar Muhammad Sablan and news editor Ibrahim Muhammad Hilal.
They were sentenced in absentia along with Asmaa al-Khatib, who worked for the Rassd media network that was linked to Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
The verdicts are expected to be appealed and the death sentences must be approved by Egypt's chief mufti.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
