Egypt court revokes life sentence against ex-president Morsi

An Egyptian appeals court on Tuesday quashed one of the two life sentences handed down to ex-president Mohamed Morsi and ordered a retrial in connection with an espionage case.

The court also quashed life sentence of 15 other Muslim Brotherhood leaders. The defendants were accused of spying with foriegn organisations, including the Palestinian military movement Hamas, funding terrorism and disclosing national security.

The court also cancelled death sentences against 16 defendants, including leaders Khyrat el-Shater, Mohamedel-Beltagy Ahmed Abdel Aty. Thirteen of the 16 were sentencedin absentia.

Last week, Egyptian court quashed the death sentences given to 65-year-old Morsi and Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie and 25 other Brotherhood leaders. The court also cancelled life sentences for 21 others inthe same case.

Last month, an Egyptian Court confirmed a 20-year prisonsentence against ex-president Mohamed Morsi for taking part in citing violence near Ittihadeya presidential palace in 2012, juridical sources said.

Morsi was sentenced to life in prison in two othertrials. He was convicted of spying for Iran, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Morsi is still in prison in other cases, including spying and handing documents of national security importance to Qatari intelligence through a news channel. Morsi came to power after Egypt's long-time President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. He was toppled by the current President Abdel Fattahal-Sisi following mass street protests.