Mohammed Morsi death: supporters allege ‘state-sponsored murder’
Calls for inquiry into treatment of former Egyptian president who was on trial

There have been allegations of “state-sponsored murder” after Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected civilian president, collapsed and died during a court session.
The 67-year-old was on trial for espionage charges almost six years after he was forced from power in a bloody coup. Just minutes earlier he had told the court of the “many secrets“ he harboured and could reveal.
Morsi’s lawyer, Osama El Helw, told AFP: “We heard the banging on the glass cage from the rest of the other inmates and them screaming loudly that Morsi had died.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
State television quoted an unnamed medical source as saying Morsi had suffered a heart attack.
Mohammed Sudan, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, said the former president denied medicine or visits and described Morsi's death as “premeditated murder”.
Two former ministers in the Morsi government, Amr Darrag and Yehia Hamed, said the authorities’ denial of access to medical treatment was “tantamount to state-sponsored murder”.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared: “History will never forget those tyrants who led to his death by putting him in jail and threatening him with execution.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
In the UK, MP Crispin Blunt, who had warned about Morsi's health, called for a “reputable independent international investigation”, and said Egypt's government had a “duty to explain his unfortunate death”.
Blunt was one of a panel of MPs who said last year that his detention “would constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” and “could meet the threshold for torture in accordance (with) Egyptian and international law”.
Condemnation of the authorities’ treatment of Morsi has continued to be aired. Human Rights Watch said the incident was “predictable” given authorities' “failure” to provide necessary care.
Elsewhere, Wael Haddara, a former adviser, said: “We had been expecting the worst for some time.”
“In many ways, this was the expected result of the military’s actions,” he continued. “But he was a friend, and a symbol for many Egyptians, so it’s painful.”
Amnesty International says that an investigation into Morsy's death and the conditions of his detention is an “urgent requirement”. It pointed to Egypt's “proven track record of holding prisoners in solitary confinement for long periods and in harsh conditions”.
-
AI workslop is muddying the American workplace
The explainer Using AI may create more work for others
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
The 5 best mob movies of all time
The Week Recommends If you don’t like a good gangster flick, just fuhgeddaboudit
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations