This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2015/01/02/world/middleeast/egypt-al-jazeera-journalists-trial.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Egyptian Court Orders Retrial for 3 Al Jazeera Journalists Egyptian Court Orders Retrial for 3 Al Jazeera Journalists
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Egypt’s highest appeals court on Thursday ordered a retrial for three imprisoned journalists from Al Jazeera’s English-language network, acknowledging critical procedural flaws in a case that focused international criticism on the government. CAIRO — Egypt’s highest appeals court on Thursday ordered a retrial for three imprisoned journalists from Al Jazeera’s English-language service, weighing in on a case that has focused international criticism on the government.
Still, the decision offered no guarantees that the journalists, who have been in prison for more than a year, would be freed anytime soon.Still, the decision offered no guarantees that the journalists, who have been in prison for more than a year, would be freed anytime soon.
The case has been an embarrassment for Egypt, drawing attention to the government’s sweeping crackdown on media freedom and political dissent since the military ouster of the country’s first democratically elected leader, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.The case has been an embarrassment for Egypt, drawing attention to the government’s sweeping crackdown on media freedom and political dissent since the military ouster of the country’s first democratically elected leader, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The journalists — Mohamed . Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed — were convicted in June on charges that included conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false reports. All three were sentenced to seven-year prison terms, but Mr. Mohamed received three additional years for possessing a spent bullet casing that he had recovered from a street protest. The journalists — Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed — were convicted in June on charges that included conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false reports. All three were sentenced to seven-year prison terms, but Mr. Mohamed received three additional years for possessing a spent bullet casing that he had recovered from a street protest.
Rights advocates described the case, from arrests to convictions, as a travesty and said prosecutors failed to present any evidence that the men had falsified news in their coverage of protests against the government after Mr. Morsi was forced from office.Rights advocates described the case, from arrests to convictions, as a travesty and said prosecutors failed to present any evidence that the men had falsified news in their coverage of protests against the government after Mr. Morsi was forced from office.
Thousands of Islamists were killed by the military-backed government during the protests.Thousands of Islamists were killed by the military-backed government during the protests.
The defendants were not present on Thursday, and reporters were barred from entering the court building in downtown Cairo until the hearing had concluded. The case has drawn special notice partly because Mr. Fahmy holds both Canadian and Egyptian citizenship, and Mr. Greste is Australian. But their ordeal, which the journalists have outlined in letters from prison and in messages sent through family members, has also highlighted the plight of thousands of people swept up by the authorities on charges that are widely viewed as politically motivated.
The case has drawn special notice because two of the journalists are foreigners: Mr. Fahmy holds both Egyptian and Canadian citizenship, and Mr. Greste is Australian. But their ordeal, which the journalists have outlined in letters from prison and in messages sent through family members, has also highlighted the plight of thousands of people swept up by the authorities on charges that are widely viewed as politically motivated.
The journalists’ convictions came amid a feud between Egypt’s government, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the rulers of Qatar. Qatar, which owns the Al Jazeera news network, is a strong backer of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist political movement that was outlawed after Mr. Morsi’s ouster in 2013.The journalists’ convictions came amid a feud between Egypt’s government, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the rulers of Qatar. Qatar, which owns the Al Jazeera news network, is a strong backer of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist political movement that was outlawed after Mr. Morsi’s ouster in 2013.
A recent thaw in relations between the two governments, brokered by Saudi Arabia, had raised hopes that Egypt would finally release the journalists. In a major concession, Qatar recently suspended the broadcast of an Egyptian affiliate of Al Jazeera that had been sharply critical of Egypt’s government. (The three men had worked for a separate Al Jazeera channel.) A recent thaw in relations between the two governments, brokered by Saudi Arabia, had raised hopes that Egypt would finally release the journalists. In a major concession, Qatar recently suspended the broadcast of an Egyptian affiliate of Al Jazeera that had been sharply critical of Egypt’s government. (The three men had worked for a separate Al Jazeera service.)
Mr. Sisi also issued a decree in November allowing him to deport non-Egyptians convicted of crimes to their home countries, in an apparent sign that his government was seeking ways to deal with the negative international fallout from the case. The decree could free Mr. Fahmy and Mr. Greste, but it would not help Mr. Mohamed, an Egyptian citizen.Mr. Sisi also issued a decree in November allowing him to deport non-Egyptians convicted of crimes to their home countries, in an apparent sign that his government was seeking ways to deal with the negative international fallout from the case. The decree could free Mr. Fahmy and Mr. Greste, but it would not help Mr. Mohamed, an Egyptian citizen.
Lawyers for the journalists said that the judges on Thursday had declined requests to suspend their clients’ sentences as they awaited a new trial, dashing the families’ hopes that the men would be freed. Lawyers for the journalists said that the judges on Thursday had declined requests to suspend their clients’ sentences as they awaited a new trial, dashing the families’ hopes that the men would be freed quickly.
“I’m disappointed,” said Adel Fahmy, a brother of Mr. Fahmy, one of the journalists. “We were banking on a retrial with a release. I was expecting something better today.” “I’m disappointed,” said Adel Fahmy, a brother of Mohamed Fahmy. “We were banking on a retrial with a release. I was expecting something better today.”
Still, the lawyers held out hope that the journalists could be granted bail at the start of their new trial, which is expected to begin within a month.Still, the lawyers held out hope that the journalists could be granted bail at the start of their new trial, which is expected to begin within a month.
In their request for a new trial, the lawyers argued that evidence had been tampered with and that prosecutors had made several procedural errors. The defendants were not present on Thursday, and reporters were barred from entering the court building in downtown Cairo until the hearing had concluded.
In the request for a new trial, their lawyers argued that evidence had been tampered with and that prosecutors had made several procedural errors.
The judges did not immediately release their reasons for ordering a new trial. The appeals court, the Court of Cassation, is considered one of the most rigorous and independent legal bodies in Egypt.The judges did not immediately release their reasons for ordering a new trial. The appeals court, the Court of Cassation, is considered one of the most rigorous and independent legal bodies in Egypt.
In a statement after the court decision on Thursday, Al Jazeera said that the Egyptian authorities had a choice: “Free these men quickly, or continue to string this out, all the while continuing this injustice and harming the image of their own country in the eyes of the world. They should choose the former.”In a statement after the court decision on Thursday, Al Jazeera said that the Egyptian authorities had a choice: “Free these men quickly, or continue to string this out, all the while continuing this injustice and harming the image of their own country in the eyes of the world. They should choose the former.”