Egypt court overturns death sentence against former president Morsi
Morsi was sentenced to death in June 2015 in connection with a mass jail break during the country's 2011 uprising.
By REUTERSOusted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gestures after his trial behind bars at a court in the outskirts of Cairo(photo credit: REUTERS)
Egypt's Court of Cassation overturned on Tuesday a death sentence against deposed President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered a retrial.Morsi was sentenced to death in June 2015 in connection with a mass jail break during the country's 2011 uprising.The first president to be democratically elected after the 2011 revolt, Morsi was overthrown in mid-2013 by general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following mass protests against his rule.Morsi, who was immediately arrested after his overthrew, has received lengthy jail sentences related to other charges, including two high-profile espionage cases. Tuesday's court ruling means he no longer faces execution.Human rights groups have accused Egyptian authorities of widespread abuses in a crackdown on Brotherhood supporters as well as secular activists, allegations they deny.