This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27972181
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Al-Jazeera trio get seven years jail | Al-Jazeera trio get seven years jail |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three al-Jazeera journalists accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood have been jailed for seven years in Egypt. | |
A court in Cairo convicted Peter Greste, Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed of spreading false news and supporting the banned Islamist group. The trio had denied the charges. | A court in Cairo convicted Peter Greste, Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed of spreading false news and supporting the banned Islamist group. The trio had denied the charges. |
Nine defendants tried in absentia, including three foreign journalists, received 10-year sentences. | |
The trial has caused an international outcry amid claims it is politicised. | The trial has caused an international outcry amid claims it is politicised. |
Earlier, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a direct appeal to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi for the release of Mr Greste, a former BBC correspondent. | Earlier, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a direct appeal to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi for the release of Mr Greste, a former BBC correspondent. |
The three al-Jazeera journalists, who have been detained in Egypt for the past six months, were each sentenced to seven years in jail. | |
Mr Mohamed sentenced to a further three years in jail on a separate charge involving possession of weapons. | |
Growing media restrictions | |
Al-Jazeera has said only nine of the 20 defendants are its employees. | |
The others are reportedly students and activists, two of whom were acquitted in Monday's verdict. | |
It comes amid concerns over growing media restrictions in Egypt. | |
Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed were among 16 Egyptians charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation and "harming national unity". | |
Mr Greste and three other journalists who have left the country - British al-Jazeera reporters Dominic Kane and Sue Turton, and the Dutch newspaper and radio journalist Rena Netjes - were accused of "collaborating with the Egyptians by providing them with money, equipment, information", and "airing false news". | |
The Qatar-based network al-Jazeera is banned from operating inside Egypt after the authorities accused it of broadcasting reports sympathetic to former President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Jazeera has consistently denied the allegations. | |
Qatar has supported the Brotherhood and is unpopular with Egypt's government. |