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Mohamed Morsi life sentence quashed by Egypt court

Appeals court annuls sentence against Muslim Brotherhood's former president on charges of spying for Iran and Hamas
Former president Mohamed Morsi has had a life sentence against him overturned. A death sentence against him was overturned last week (AFP)

An Egyptian appeals court on Tuesday quashed one of two life sentences against the Muslim Brotherhood's former president Mohamed Morsi, his lawyer and a judicial source said.

The latest judgement follows the overturning of a death sentence against Morsi last week by the same court. 

Lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud told AFP said the sentence related to charges of spying for Iran and Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Court of Cassation also quashed the sentences against several Muslum Brotherhood officials.

Morsi was Egypt's only democratically elected president. He was overthrown in a military coup in 2013.

The Court of Cassation will later this month begin reviewing a second life sentence against Morsi in a separate trial on charges of stealing documents relating to national security and handing them over to Qatar, a longstanding supporter of the Brotherhood.

Morsi's trial is one of thousands against members of the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition activists that have taken place since 2013. 

Morsi was ousted by a coup led by then-general, now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole on charges arising from the alleged killing of protesters in December 2012 as well as being sentenced to 40 years on charges of spying for Qatar.

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