World Bulletin / News Desk

A defense lawyer of ousted President Mohamed Morsi said Saturday that he hasn't been able to meet his client to discuss appealing his imprisonment on charges of ordering the torture and killing of protesters in 2012.

On April 21, an Egyptian court sentenced the president to 20 years in jail on charges of ordering the torture and killing of protesters outside the presidential Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in late 2012.

The ruling can, however, be appealed within 60 days from the date of issuance. Only 25 days have lapsed since the ruling was issued.

Lawyer Ali Kamal said he and other defense team members would face the same obstacle (meeting Morsi) if the court upholds Saturday's death penalty against the ousted president and his 121 co-defendants in the upcoming June 2 trial session.

"We must meet the president to learn whether we should  appeal the [prison] sentence or not," Kamal told Anadolu Agency.

Kamal went on to note that Morsi had previously emphasized that he does not recognize the authority of the court trying him, claiming that as president, he should have a special trial as stipulated by the constitution.

Kamal said he and other defense team members have filed several requests to meet Morsi over the past 25 days, but that the authorities have yet to respond to any of them.

According to the constitution, a president should be tried by a panel headed by the chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council.

"The president rejects the trials because they violate the constitution," Kamal said. "This is why it is important to know his opinion before an appeal is filed," he added.