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| Egypt summons UK ambassador in row over al-Jazeera convictions | Egypt summons UK ambassador in row over al-Jazeera convictions |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Egyptian officials have summoned the British ambassador in Cairo to discuss what it said was his “unacceptable interference in the provisions of the Egyptian judiciary”, after he made comments relating to the conviction of three al-Jazeera journalists. | Egyptian officials have summoned the British ambassador in Cairo to discuss what it said was his “unacceptable interference in the provisions of the Egyptian judiciary”, after he made comments relating to the conviction of three al-Jazeera journalists. |
| John Casson was quoted by al-Bawaba English as saying that Egypt’s stability should not be built on a “shaky foundation which deprives people of their rights and undermines the freedom of the press and freedom of expression”. | |
| He spoke out after attending a hearing on Saturday in which Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste were sentenced to three years in jail for working as journalists without a licence. | He spoke out after attending a hearing on Saturday in which Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste were sentenced to three years in jail for working as journalists without a licence. |
| Egypt’s foreign ministry expressed its “strong objection” to Casson’s comments, describing them as an “incompatible with the norms of diplomatic practices”, according to a statement on its official Facebook page. | Egypt’s foreign ministry expressed its “strong objection” to Casson’s comments, describing them as an “incompatible with the norms of diplomatic practices”, according to a statement on its official Facebook page. |
| The case of the al-Jazeera journalists has stoked an international outcry and raised questions over Egypt’s stated commitment to democracy nearly five years after an uprising toppled the autocratic president Hosni Mubarak. | The case of the al-Jazeera journalists has stoked an international outcry and raised questions over Egypt’s stated commitment to democracy nearly five years after an uprising toppled the autocratic president Hosni Mubarak. |
| Rights advocates say their arrest was part of a crackdown on free speech waged since the army overthrew Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 following mass unrest over his presidency. | Rights advocates say their arrest was part of a crackdown on free speech waged since the army overthrew Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 following mass unrest over his presidency. |
| Greste, an Australian who was deported in February, was convicted in absentia, while Fahmy, a naturalised Canadian, denounced his Egyptian citizenship in a failed effort to secure his own deportation. Mohamed is an Egyptian national. | Greste, an Australian who was deported in February, was convicted in absentia, while Fahmy, a naturalised Canadian, denounced his Egyptian citizenship in a failed effort to secure his own deportation. Mohamed is an Egyptian national. |
| On Saturday Greste called on Egypt’s current president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, to pardon him and his imprisoned colleagues. | On Saturday Greste called on Egypt’s current president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, to pardon him and his imprisoned colleagues. |
| The Foreign Office would not comment on Casson’s summoning by Egyptian officials and instead referred the Guardian to a statement by Tobias Ellwood, minister for the Middle East and north Africa, which largely echoed Casson’s comments. | The Foreign Office would not comment on Casson’s summoning by Egyptian officials and instead referred the Guardian to a statement by Tobias Ellwood, minister for the Middle East and north Africa, which largely echoed Casson’s comments. |
| Ellwood said: “I am deeply concerned by the sentences handed down against journalists in Egypt. These sentences will undermine confidence in Egypt’s progress towards strong long-term stability based on implementing the rights granted by the Egyptian constitution. | Ellwood said: “I am deeply concerned by the sentences handed down against journalists in Egypt. These sentences will undermine confidence in Egypt’s progress towards strong long-term stability based on implementing the rights granted by the Egyptian constitution. |
| “We have repeatedly raised this case and the restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt with ministers and senior officials. We note that the case can be appealed, and will monitor future developments closely. | “We have repeatedly raised this case and the restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt with ministers and senior officials. We note that the case can be appealed, and will monitor future developments closely. |
| “It is vital that the Egyptian authorities take urgent action to resolve the position of the two British nationals in this case.” | “It is vital that the Egyptian authorities take urgent action to resolve the position of the two British nationals in this case.” |