Egypt to try Morsi for giving Qatar security papers

Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi will be tried on charges of giving Qatar documents relating to national security, the state prosecutor said on Saturday. The Islamist former head of state already faces the death penalty in several trials, and his supporters have been the target of a deadly crackdown by the authorities since his ouster in July 2013. No date has yet been set for the new trial for Morsi, who is suspected of providing the sensitive documents to the energy-rich Gulf state during his single year of turbulent rule.

The inquiries… exposed humiliating facts and the extent of the largest conspiracy and treason carried out by the terrorist Brotherhood organisation against the nation through a network of spies.

Statement by the Egyptian prosecutor’s office

The prosecutor said eight others, including a senior Al-Jazeera executive in Qatar, cooperated to deliver the secrets in exchange for $1 million, describing the exchange as “the biggest treason and espionage case in the country’s history”. Morsi, imprisoned since his July ouster, is already facing three trials, including on charges of cooperating with foreign militant groups. He faces a possible death penalty.

Morsi Middle East