Egypt sentenced on Wednesday 11 Muslim Brotherhood leaders to life in prison on espionage charges for passing state secrets to the Palestinian Hamas movement. The defendants were accused of "committing crimes in collaboration with foreign organizations" namely Hamas and the Hezbollah party in Lebanon, a judicial source said. They were also accused of "financing terrorism" and committing acts undermining the countrys stability and security. Among those sentenced in Cairo criminal court was the outlawed Brotherhoods chief, Mohammed Badie. It was the latest of several sentences against Badie, who received a life sentence last week on charges related to mass prison breaks during the 2011 uprising. Mohamed Fahmy, the judge presiding over the case, said before the verdict was announced: "The crimes the defendants committed harmed the independence and security of the country." "They betrayed their nation and there is no excuse for them," he added. The court formally dropped charges against the late former president, Mohammed Morsi, who collapsed and died in June during an earlier court session on the case. Authorities have branded the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and arrested thousands of its members. Wednesdays court session also saw three others sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on the same national security charges. Two others got seven-year sentences, and five others were acquitted.