Morsi's death 'entirely predictable,' says rights group

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - The death of Egypt's first and only democratically-elected president was to be expected given his treatment by authorities, a leading rights group said Monday.

"This is terrible but ENTIRELY predictable, given govt failure to allow him adequate medical care, much less family visits," Middle East and North Africa Director for Human Rights Watch Sarah Leah Whitson wrote on Twitter.

She said the group was "just finalizing" a report on Morsi's health.

A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood group, Morsi won Egypt's first free presidential election in 2012.

Following only one year in office, however, he was ousted and imprisoned in a bloody military coup led by Egypt's then defense minister -- and current president -- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Shortly after the coup, the government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organization."

At the time of his death, Morsi faced a host of legal charges, which he, along with numerous human rights groups and independent observers, said were politically motivated.

The Muslim Brotherhood previously called on the UN to call for adequate medical treatment for the ex-president, citing his neglect while detained, according to Middle East Eye.

A special report by Reuters shows that more than 100 people died of medical neglect since Sisi took control of Egypt.