Egypt's Morsi hints at attempts to poison him

Former Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi, who has been imprisoned since he was ousted in 2013, requested on Saturday that his meals be prepared outside of prison because of fears he could be poisoned.

During Saturday’s court session of the so-called 'Qatar espionage' case, the ousted president suggested that food given to him in prison in the past was poisoned.

“Five incidents have happened inside prison that have posed a direct threat to my life. Food that was given to me on July 21 and 22 would have led to a major crime," Morsi is heard saying in video leaked from the trial.

He also called on the court to give him access to doctors, saying he was suffering from worrying low blood sugar levels.

He also wanted to meet his defence team to discuss the incidents in prison that he considered to be life threatening.

Osama Morsi, the former president's son, posted a statement on Facebook, confirming that his father suspects the food may have been tampered with and that he is "now suffering from a significant shift in treatment in prison".

Following the court session, Morsi was examined by a medical specialist and his defence team was also allowed to see him, despite them previously being prevented from doing so, according to state-run news agency MENA.

The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK released a press statement on Sunday that said the Egyptian government is trying to get rid of Morsi by any means because keeping him alive is posing “a constant threat”.

Cairo’s Criminal Court on Saturday resumed hearing evidence from Morsi along with ten other defendants, facing charges of leaking military and state secrets to Qatar.

Morsi was elected president in June 2012 more than a year after long-time leader Hosni Mubarak was ousted after a popular uprising. The Muslim Brotherhood leader was deposed in July 2013 in military coup, following mass protests against him.

Since then, the Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed and its members have faced a massive crackdown.

Morsi was sentenced to death on charges of murder and attempted murder during a prison break, and the Brotherhood was declared a terrorist group.