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Egypt sentences Al-Jazeera trio to at least seven years jail | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three al-Jazeera journalists accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood have been jailed for seven years in Egypt. | 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 now banned Islamist group. The trio had denied the charges. | |
Nine defendants tried in absentia, including three foreign journalists, received 10-year sentences. | 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. |
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters on Monday she was "bitterly disappointed" by the outcome. | |
"I simply cannot understand how a court could come to this conclusion," she said. | |
Correspondents say evidence put forward earlier in court did nothing to support the serious charges brought. | |
The judge was shown photographs from Mr Greste's family holiday, a Sky Arabia report on cruelty to horses and a video of a press conference in Nairobi. | |
The three al-Jazeera journalists, who have been detained in Egypt for the past six months, were each sentenced to seven years in jail. | 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. | Mr Mohamed sentenced to a further three years in jail on a separate charge involving possession of weapons. |
In a statement, al-Jazeera English's managing director Al Anstey said the sentence "defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice". | |
The three men are expected to appeal. | |
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. | It comes amid concerns over growing media restrictions in Egypt. |
Mr Greste's brother Andrew Greste said he was "surprised" by verdict, and that he had been assured all along by the authorities that the Egyptian judiciary is independent. | |
Al-Jazeera trial | |
Who are the al-Jazeera journalists on trial in Egypt? | |
Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed were among 16 Egyptians charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation and "harming national unity". | 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". | 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. | 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. | Qatar has supported the Brotherhood and is unpopular with Egypt's government. |
'Vindictive persecution' | |
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. | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Cairo over the weekend, said he spoke to Egyptian officials about "the essential role of a vibrant civil society, free press, rule of law and due process in a democracy". | |
Earlier this month, another Al-Jazeera journalist, Abdullah Elshamy, was released on medical grounds. | |
Rights group Amnesty International has previously described the trial as a "vindictive persecution of journalists for merely doing their jobs". | |
"The journalists appear to be pawns in the hands of the authorities in their ongoing dispute with Qatar," they said. | |
Egypt's authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists and secular activists since Mr Morsi was removed by the military in July 2013. | |
Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested. |