Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

Morsi, who was on trial for inciting the killings of anti-goverment protesters, was ousted from power in 2013 in a military coup led by Egypt's current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Cairo court on Tuesday for inciting the killing of anti-government demonstrators in 2012.

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The Associated Press @AP

BREAKING: Egypt court sentences ousted President Mohammed Morsi to 20 years in prison over 2012 killings

08:22 AM - 21 Apr 2015

The sentence pertains to violent clashes outside the presidential palace in 2012 between Morsi supporters, mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and anti-government demonstrators.

Hassan Ammar / AP

Morsi supporters beat an opponent, center, during clashes outside the presidential palace in Cairo. Dec. 5, 2012.

Ten people are reported to have died during those clashes, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to Morsi, 12 Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is considered a terrorist organization by the current Egyptian government, were also given 20-year jail sentences.

Morsi came to power in 2012 as Egypt's first democratically elected president. But a few months into his term anti-government protests started to grow louder as Morsi came to be seen as an islamist president who seemed to heavily favour members and supporters of his Muslim Brotherhood party.

Before the verdicts were read on Monday, the BBC reported the Muslim Brotherhood accused the current Egyptian government and its president of using the judiciary "as a weapon."