Qatar condemns Egypt’s verdict in Al-Jazeera case

Qatar condemns Egypt’s sentencing to death of six people, including two Al-Jazeera employees, for allegedly passing documents related to national security to Qatar and the Doha-based TV network during the rule of president Mohammed Morsi.

Saturday’s verdicts, which can be appealed, have further inflamed tensions between the two countries. Qatar was a major backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group before he was overthrown by the military in July 2013. Egypt now considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group.

In a statement on Qatar’s state news agency late Saturday, the Foreign Ministry says the verdict contains misleading claims about Qatar and lacks a “proper sense of justice.”

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry fires back, accusing Qatar of backing “hostile” media outlets.

— AP