Egypt slams reaction to Morsi possible death ruling

An agency affiliated with Egypt’s presidency on Saturday described as “unacceptable intervention” comments made by countries and NGOs on a court decision earlier in the day to consult Egypt’s religious authority on possible death sentences against ousted president Mohamed Morsi and 121 other people.

The State Information Service – known to be the official media and public relations agency of the government – denounced reactions made against the decision, saying these reactions reflected “ignorance”.

“The judge did not issue any verdicts,” the State Information Service said in a statement.

It added that the judge only referred the files of the ousted president and the 121 other defendants to the Grand Mufti to consult him on possible death sentences against them, noting that a verdict would be issued in the case on June 2.

It noted that these reactions were also “unacceptable intervention in the work of Egypt’s judiciary”.

“They overlook a basic principle of all democratic systems: the independence of the judiciary,” the agency added.

Earlier in the day, an Egyptian criminal court referred the files of the ousted president and 121 other co-defendants to the Grand Mufti to consult him before death sentences are issued against them on June 2.

Source: World Bulletin