Morsi avoids new death sentence but six face execution in Qatar spying case
Egyptian judge calls for death penalty for six co-defendants including Al Jazeera pair charged with espionage, but ex-president not among them
An Egyptian court recommended death sentences on Saturday for six co-defendants of Mohamed Morsi but not for the former president and Muslim Brotherhood leader in their trial on espionage charges.
The presiding judge in the trial asked the mufti, the country's official interpreter of Islamic law, to consider death sentences for the six co-defendants, who included two Al Jazeera journalists, saying the court would convene again on 18 June after the mufti's response.
It will then pronounce its verdict and sentence for the remaining five defendants, including Morsi, on charges of having supplied Qatar with classified documents.
The fact that Morsi has not been sentenced to death at this stage suggests that he will likely avoid receiving the death penalty in this case.
The Qatar espionage case stems from allegations that aides passed on classified state secrets to Doha using intermediaries.
The six facing a death sentence include Ibrahim Mohamed Hilal, whom the prosecution had identified as a senior editor with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera media network.
He is not in Egypt and was tried in absentia.
Al Jazeera said that Hilal was head of news at the network's Arabic channel, while an official said he was also an adviser to the channel's chairman.
Another, also tried in absentia, is Jordanian citizen Alaa Omar Mohamed Sablan, identified by the prosecution as an Al Jazeera producer.
- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/morsi-spared-new-death-sentence-six-face-possible-execution-qatar-espionage-case-1402296192#sthash.PCommLb2.dpuf
Okay, so the two Al Jazeera people were tried en abstentia and are not even in Egypt;
Anyay, these accused passed info on to Qatar; highlighting again, what seems to be a dangerous country there.
UAE believe it or not, bankrolled the Egyptian military to throw out the MB; Qatar helped the MB. 2 Gulf Nations, totally different stances.
