Story highlights The six were accused of leaking state secrets to Qatar

Al Jazeera describes it as "an unjust and politicized sentence"

(CNN) An Egyptian court handed down death sentences to six people, including two Al Jazeera journalists, for alleged spying.

The six, along with former President Mohammed Morsy and his aides, were accused of leaking state secrets to Qatar.

The court ruled Saturday in support of a verdict ratified by Egypt's religious leaders in the case dubbed the "Qatar spying case."

In addition to the two former employees of the Qatar-based network, a reporter for Rasd media channel was also among those convicted. The journalists were tried in absentia.

The journalists are former director of news at Al Jazeera's Arabic channel, Ibrahim Mohammed Helal; former Al Jazeera producer Alaa Omar Mohammed Sablan; and Asmaa Mohammed al-Khatib, a reporter for Rasd.

JUST WATCHED Freed journalist speaks out Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Freed journalist speaks out 03:48