Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in court
Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in courtReuters

The European Union (EU) on Sunday denounced the death sentence handed down to Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi and at least 100 others, noting the penalty stemmed from a flawed trial, according to AFP.

"The court decision to seek the death penalty... was taken at the end of a mass trial that was not in line with Egypt's obligations under international law," the EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

She added that Egypt has to guarantee defendants' rights to a fair trial and to an independent investigation, nothing the EU believes the sentence will be revised upon appeal.

"The EU opposes capital punishment under all circumstances," Mogherini said. "The death penalty is cruel and inhumane."

The United States also expressed alarm Sunday at the death sentences, saying it has "consistently spoken out against the practice of mass trials and sentences".

Morsi was among more than 100 defendants ordered by a court on Saturday to face the death penalty for their role in a mass jailbreak during the 2011 uprising.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday night blasted Egypt for the death sentence, saying it meant that "Egypt is turning back into ancient Egypt.”

"The West, unfortunately, is still turning a blind eye to Sisi's coup," he continued, referring to current President and former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president after winning elections last year.