The court of cassation overturns the death sentence pronounced in June against former president Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood
Egypt’s Court of Cassation has overturned the death sentence pronounced against deposed President Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered a retrial.
Mursi was sentenced to death in June 2015 on charges of collusion with foreign militants to free Islamists in a mass jail break that occurred during the country’s 2011 uprising.
In 2012 he became the first president to be democratically elected after the uprising, but, following mass protests against his rule, was overthrown by General-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after serving just one of his four years of office.
Mursi was arrested immediately after his overthrow and received lengthy jail sentences relating to a number of charges, including two high-profile espionage cases.
The verdict of the Egyptian court means that Mursi will no longer face execution. Five other members of the Muslim Brotherhood have also been spared.