Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi dies 'in court' – state TV

Source: RT

June 17, 2019 at 12:10

Photo dated June 21, 2015 of Mohamed Morsi in court © REUTERS / Amr Abdallah Dalsh / File Photo

Egypt's former president, Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by the military in 2013, dies in court, state TV says

Egypt’s former president Mohamed Morsi has died suddenly following a court appearance, according to Egyptian state television. He was 67.

The former president and Muslim Brotherhood leader collapsed after a trial session in an espionage lawsuit on Monday for alleged contact with Hamas. He had reportedly been given permission from the presiding judge to address the court before he fainted.

Morsi came to power after Hosni Mubarak was deposed in mass Arab Spring protests in 2011. However, he ruled for only a year after being elected to the post before he was toppled by the military following mass protests in 2013.

He was serving lengthy sentences on convictions of killing protesters in 2012, espionage involving Qatar, and a jailbreak. Morsi was sentenced to death in 2015 for taking part in a mass jailbreak during Egypt’s uprising in 2011. However, the sentence was overturned late the following year.