The Free Press Journal

First woman to scale Everest dies at 77

- YOUSSRA EL-SHARKAWY

An Egyptian criminal court confirmed a 20year prison sentence given to Mohammed Morsi for inciting violence during demonstrat­ions in 2012, the first final verdict in a case against the former president.

Eight other defendants were sentenced to prison terms of up to 20 years in the case. Their appeals were refused too.

In April 2015, a Cairo court had sentenced Morsi to 20 years in prison for inciting violence against protesters who had staged a sit-in outside the Ittihadiya presidenti­al palace in December 2012, when Morsi was still in power.

The then opposition protesters had rallied in front of the palace to peacefully protest Morsi's decree in which he had ordered that the president shall remain immune from judicial oversight.

Clashes erupted outside the palace and 10 people were killed, including journalist el-Husseini Abu Deif, 33.

Morsi and other defendants were charged for killing protesters, possessing weapons, and inciting violence during the sit-in near the palace. Morsi is currently in prison over other cases.

The former president has said he does not recongnise the trials he faces.

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