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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. | 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 was politicised. | |
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters on Monday she was "bitterly disappointed" by the outcome. Greste, a former BBC journalist, is an Australian citizen. | |
"I simply cannot understand how a court could come to this conclusion," she said. | "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. | 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 news 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. |
Baher Mohamed was 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Peter Greste's brother Andrew said he was "surprised" by the verdict, and that he had been assured all along by the authorities that the Egyptian judiciary is independent. | |
At the scene: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Cairo | |
As he heard the verdict, Peter Greste hit the cage where he and the other defendants were held. His colleague Mohammad Fahmy, a Canadian Egyptian, had to be dragged from the court by the prison guards. Relatives burst into tears. | |
This case has been condemned around the world by the media and by human rights groups. But in the Egyptian media, it is presented differently. Al-Jazeera is seen as supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood and as such is an enemy of the state. | |
Fahmy and Mohamed were among 16 Egyptians charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation and "harming national unity". | |
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 [the defendants] by providing them with money, equipment, information", and "airing false news". | |
'Vendetta' | |
Al-Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, was 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. | |
Earlier this month, Fahmy shouted from the dock that the trial was a "vendetta against al-Jazeera". | |
He complained that they were "hostages" in a political battle between Egypt and Qatar. | |
Al-Jazeera trial | Al-Jazeera trial |
Who are the al-Jazeera journalists on trial in Egypt? | Who are the al-Jazeera journalists on trial in Egypt? |
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a direct appeal to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi for Greste's release. | |
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". | 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. | |
Human 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. | "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. | 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. | Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested. |