Norway: Morsi’s death sentence ‘unacceptable’

Norway yesterday said the death sentence handed down against ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders was “unacceptable”.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said in a statement: “It is unacceptable that more than 100 people, including former President Morsi, have been condemned to death in a summary trial.”

“Norway has made it clear that we oppose the practice of holding mass trials that fail to comply with Egypt’s international obligations.”

“I expect all those accused to be given the opportunity of a fair appeal hearing and the question of guilt to be decided on an individual basis,” he added.

The Norwegian minister said that his country expects Egypt to establish a fair system that provides convicts with the right to defend themselves.

Brende urged the Egyptian authorities to ensure the independence of the judiciary, saying that courts must safeguard “the right of the accused to a fair trial in accordance with international standards”.

On Saturday, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Morsi and over 100 Muslim Brotherhood members, leaders and supporters to death over charges of espionage and mass jailbreak in 2011.