Egyptian Court Overturns Morsi’s Death Sentence

Deposed Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi

Egypt’s top appeals court has overturned a death sentence against ousted Islamist President Muhammad Morsi.

The Court of Cassation also annulled on November 15 death and prison sentences against 26 members of his banned Muslim Brotherhood movement.

The ruling means they will be retried over a mass prison break during the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi escaped from prison in January 2011 and was convicted of colluding with foreign militants in a plot to free imprisoned Islamists.

He has separately been sentenced to life in prison for terrorism offenses and still faces trial on other charges.

In 2012, Morsi became Egypt's first democratically elected president before he was ousted by the military a year later following street protests against his rule.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa