WASHINGTON
The U.S. said Tuesday that it is troubled by an Egyptian court’s decision to sentence the country’s first democratically elected president to a 20-year prison term.
"The United States is concerned by these sentences," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. "All Egyptians, regardless of political affiliation, are entitled to equal and fair treatment before the law, including full respect for their rights to due process."
An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Mohamed Morsi and 12 others to 20 years in jail for inciting the murder of opposition protesters three years ago – the first conviction against the Islamist president since his ouster by the army in July 2013.
Morsi was found guilty of inciting the murder of demonstrators during clashes between his supporters and opponents outside eastern Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace in December 2012.
Although a total of 11 people – including eight Morsi supporters – were killed in the violence, the trial addressed only the deaths of one reporter and two anti-Morsi demonstrators.
Morsi was ousted by the military after just one year in office, following mass protests against his presidency.
Since Morsi's removal, Egyptian authorities have launched a relentless crackdown on dissent that has largely targeted Morsi's Islamist supporters, leaving hundreds dead and thousands behind bars.
Tuesday’s ruling followed the court's decisions against dozens of Morsi supporters who have received life sentences.
Earnest said that the administration would not have an extensive comment until it reviewed the basis of the court ruling
"Mr. Morsi, like all other defendants, must be afforded the basic legal right of due process. And the United States continues to be strongly opposed to politicized arrests and detentions," he added.
Amid the debate about Egypt’s deteriorating human rights record due to mass trials and sentences that has been widely criticized as politically motivated, the U.S. lifted a hold on military assistance to the country.
Although the stated reason for the restriction was due to the violent crack down on opposition protestors by Egyptian forces in 2013, a State Department spokeswoman declined elaborate about why the U.S. lifted the hold while little has changed since then.
"We made a decision. I think that's what changed," said Marie Harf.
