Three Al Jazeera journalists have been sentenced by a Cairo court to 3 years each, after finding them "guilty" of aiding a terrorist organization.
Egyptian Baher Mohamed, Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Australian Peter Greste were all handed 3-year jail sentences when the court delivered the verdict on Saturday 29th August, 2015; sparking worldwide outrage and condemnation.
Mohamed was sentenced to an additional 6 months for possession of a spent bullet casing. The journalists had been initially found guilty in June 2014 of aiding a "terrorist group", a reference to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. This Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed in Egypt after the army overthrew former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Raad said: "we are very disturbed by these 3 sentences and the extra pressure it creates on journalists in Egypt who are just trying to do their jobs."
The EU said the verdict represented " setback for freedom of expression in Egypt".
Judge Hassan Farid in his ruling on Saturday, said he sentenced the men to prison at least partly because they had not registered with the country's journalist "syndicate".
Again, he said the men brought in equipment without security officials' approval, had broadcast "false news" on Al Jazeera and used a hotel as a broadcasting point without permission.
The verdict was immediately condemned by Al Jazeera Media Network Acting Director General, Dr Mostefa Souag, who said: "today's verdict defies logic and common sense. Our colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy will now have to return to prison while Peter Greste who is presently in Australia is sentenced in absentia".
- hmanisblack.blogspot.com
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