Egypt Court Jailed President Mursi For 20 Years

An Egyptian court on Tuesday, has sentenced ousted president Mohamed Mursi and 12 other defendants to 20 years in jail for involvement in the arrests and torture of protesters during his rule.

It was the first ruling against Muslim Brotherhood leader Mursi since the army toppled him in 2013 after mass protests against his rule.

Mr Mursi was deposed by the army in July 2013 following mass street protests against his rule.
Since then, the authorities have banned his Muslim Brotherhood party and arrested thousands of his supporters.
Mr Mursi and several other Muslim Brotherhood leaders were accused of inciting supporters to kill a journalist and opposition protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace in late 2012.

The movement was designated a "terrorist group" in December 2013, with the authorities blaming it for attacks on the security forces.

Jihadists have claimed these attacks in retaliation for the anti-Brotherhood crackdown.

In a country where the army has been in power for decades, Sisi's May 2014 presidential victory crushed hopes raised since the popular anti-Mubarak revolt of a civilian democracy.

Mursi also faced a possible death penalty in two other trials, including one in which he was accused of spying for foreign powers.

Separate verdicts in those two cases would be due on May 16.

Mr Mursi was toppled after mass street protests against his year-long rule.

The new authorities then launched a sweeping crackdown on his supporters in which more than 1,400 people were killed and thousands jailed.

Hundreds have been sentenced to death after speedy mass trials which the United Nations called "unprecedented in recent history".