VIDEO: Al-Jazeera Journalists Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison in Egypt
A Cairo court has sentenced three Al-Jazeera journalists to three years in prison on charges that legal experts said were unfounded and politically motivated. The move has sparked worldwide outrage, with the European Union describing the verdict as "a setback for freedom of expression in Egypt."A Cairo court has sentenced three Al-Jazeera journalists to three years in prison on charges that legal experts said were unfounded and politically motivated. Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict Saturday. Australian Peter Greste was deported to Australia earlier this year and was tried in absentia.
The move has sparked worldwide outrage, with the European Union describing the verdict as “a setback for freedom of expression in Egypt.” In this video, Amal Clooney, lawyer for defendant Mohamed Fahmy, calls on the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, to overturn the court’s decision.
According to Al-Jazeera, “the journalists had been initially found guilty in June 2014 of aiding a ‘terrorist organization,’ a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was outlawed in Egypt after the army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.” Read more here.
–Posted by Roisin Davis
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
The philosopher and linguist reflects on his seminal work, "Manufacturing Consent," and the sinister new ways we are sold to advertisers.
The harder it becomes for Israel to sell its apartheid state, the more pronounced its already massive interference will become.
The social media network wants you to know if you’re getting your news from the wrong government.
Ava Winstanley of Electronic Intifada examines how the Netanyahu government silences critical voices in the United Kingdom and beyond.
The congresswoman's tweets may have been indelicate, but that doesn't make her criticism of organizations like AIPAC any less true.
Israeli snipers pose dire threats for Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Our responsibility is to read, listen and watch news produced at such high costs.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.