Three Al-Jazeera journalists, Peter Greste (correspondent, Australian),
bureau chief Mohamed
Fahmy (Canadian/Egyptian) have been sentenced to 7 years in prison each
over allegations of false reporting and
association with the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. While a 3rd
journalist, Baher Mohamed (producer) was given 10 years for same charges
and also for being in possession of ammunition.
The three journalists were arrested in December 2013 after security
forces raided their work suite office in Cairo on charges of 'spreading
false news' and holding meetings
with Muslim Brotherhood.
The journalists had reported on how Egyptian security agencies killed
hundreds
of peaceful protesters in sit-ins in Cairo. This was when Egyptians
took to the streets to protest the coup by the army that removed former
Egyptian president, Mohammed
Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood from power in July 2013 and
demanding for his reinstatement. Continue...
The arrest of the three journalist last year raised
international concerns with powerful world leaders including the UN
Secretary General, Ban kin Moon, calling for their release by the
Egyptian govt. But instead of releasing them, they've been found guilty and sentenced.
Six other Al-Jazeera journalists - Alaa Bayoumi, Anas Abdel-Wahab Khalawi Hasan, Khaleel Aly Khaleel Bahnasy, Mohamed Fawzi, Dominic Kane, and Sue Turton were tried in absentia and handed 10 years in prison verdicts.
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