Egypt sentences two Al Jazeera journalists and four others to death

Six people have been sentenced to death in Egypt for sharing state secrets. Ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi is still awaiting his fate. 

An Egyptian court has asked for the death penalty for three journalists and three others charged with endangering national security by leaking state secrets and documents to Qatar, a close ally of deposed President Morsi's now-banned Muslim Brotherhood party. They can appeal.

Two of the journalists work for the Qatari-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera. The three journalists, who include one Jordanian national, were sentenced in absentia.

The codefendants have been sentenced to death by hanging. But before the sentence can be carried out, it must be approved by the top religious authority, the Grand Mufti, the official interpreter of Islamic law. The final ruling is expected on June 18.

Morsi sentencing to come later

The Cairo Criminal Court has set June 18 as the date for Morsi's trial, when he and four other defendants will stand charged with similar crimes.

Morsi has already received three different sentences in three separate trials. He was first sentenced to death, then life in prison, then life behind bars for 20 years.

The Muslim Brotherhood has dismissed the charges as being politically motivated.

The former leader was deposed by the military in June 2013 after being elected democratically following uprisings in Egypt, part of what became known as the Arab Spring.

blc/jm (AFP, dpa)