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U.S. condemns death sentence against Egypt's Morsi and supporters

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Monday denounced the death sentence handed down by an Egyptian court against former President Mohammed Morsi and his 106 supporters.

State Department spokesman Jeffrey Rathke voiced "deep concern" about the latest instance of "mass death sentence" in Egypt, saying "We have consistently spoken out against the practice of mass trials and sentences, which are conducted in a manner that's inconsistent with Egypt's international obligations and which are frequently used against members of the opposition and non-violent activists."

"This practice, which in this instance was directed against, among others, a former elected president, is unjust and undermines confidence in the rule of law," he told reporters at a daily news briefing.

Morsi was sentenced to death on Saturday over charges arising from a mass jailbreak in 2011, along with his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, making him the first Egyptian president who has ever faced a death verdict.

Turkey, among others, threatened on Monday to take the verdict to the UN Human Rights Commission.

Morsi was ousted by the army in July 2013 amid mass protests against his one-year rule. He has since faced a number of charges including inciting violence, conspiring with foreign powers and killing protesters.

Egyptian authorities branded the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization last year. Endite