CAIRO: An Egyptian judge yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed that Mohamed Morsi, the former president, will face death by hanging for helping to orchestrate a prison break in the dying days of his predecessor's rule.
Mr Morsi escaped from Wadi el-Natrun prison on January 30, 2011, five days after mass protests erupted against the dictatorial rule of Hosni Mubarak. The Islamist leader's arrest represented a last-ditch attempt to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood, then one of the most powerful political groups in Egypt, from mobilising on the streets.
He was popularly elected as president in June 2012, but overthrown by the military after a divisive year in office.
Yesterday's verdict came as a confirmation of an earlier provisional ruling. It was made by the Grand Mufti, the country's highest religious authority. The Mufti's opinions are not binding, and the ruling will be referred to Egypt's highest appeals court. The date of an appeal has yet to be determined and it remains an open question whether the former president will actually go to the gallows.
Earlier, judge Shaaban al-Shami also sentenced Mr Morsi and 21 other defendants to life in prison on charges of spying for the Palestinian Hamas movement, Lebanon's Shia Hizbollah, and Iran.
The verdicts were read out to a courtroom cage packed with defendants. Most wore white tracksuits, signalling the fact that they have yet to be sentenced. A handful wore navy or red, denoting their status as convicted or death row prisoners respectively.
The judge described the Muslim Brotherhood as "diabolical" and "hateful" and also confirmed death sentences for five other jailed members of the group, including Mohammed Badie, its spiritual leader, and Saad el-Katatni, the head of its short-lived political party.
Once viewed as a bastion of independence, Egypt's judiciary has rubber-stamped a sweeping police crackdown against Islamist and secular dissidents since Mr Morsi's overthrow.
Although there is evidence to suggest that some verdicts are influenced by pressure from the top, legal experts said that Egypt's judges are also following their own interests, in line with a culture that prioritises stability and security.
The Brotherhood said the court verdicts were "null and void" and called for a "popular uprising" on Friday in a statement on its Facebook page.
"The Brotherhood calls on the honourable among this nation to participate in a popular uprising next Friday against the death sentences, detentions, kidnappings, and forced disappearances," the group said.
