David Cameron 'appalled' as Al Jazeera journalists are given seven-year jail terms in Egypt

 
Jailed: from left, Mohammed Fahmy, Canadian-Egyptian acting bureau chief of Al-Jazeera, Australian correspondent Peter Greste, and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed (Picture: AP, from May 15)

David Cameron has said he is “completely appalled” after three journalists were given seven year jail terms in Egypt.

The shock verdicts saw Peter Greste, an award-winning Australian journalist, along with Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed convicted of belonging to, or assisting, a terrorist organisation, broadcasting false news, and working without a permit.

The Prime Minister cast doubt on whether the men were given a fair trial and called for the case to be urgently reviewed.

Al Jazeera reporter Peter Greste was seen hitting the cage he was locked in as the verdict and sentence was announced this morning.

His colleague Mohamed Fahmy had to be dragged from the court shouting. A third journalist Baher Mohamed was given an additional three years for possession of ammunition.

The men denied the charges of spreading false news and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, now a banned organisation.

Mr Cameron’s spokesman said: “The PM is completely appalled by the guilty verdicts delivered today.

“We are particularly concerned about the reports of procedural issues during the trial including that key prosecution evidence was not made available to the defence team.

“We will continue to raise this issue with the Egyptian government and urge them to review this case as a matter of urgency and demonstrate their commitment to freedom of expression.”

Foreign Secretary William Hague also summoned Egypt’s ambassador to come and explain the verdict and sentences.

Three other foreign journalists tried in absentia received 10-year sentences. The Al Jazeera three were detained in December and accused of publishing lies that harmed the national interest and supplying money, equipment and information to 16 Egyptians.

The verdicts caused outrage among colleagues who have led protests over media freedom in Egypt. Kate Benyon-Tinker, BBC Middle East producer, tweeted from court: “Relatives of journos crying. Some of the journalists covering the verdict also in tears.”

All three had been held at Egypt’s notorious Tora prison in a case that has also drawn criticism from Western governments. Al Jazeera’s Cairo offices have been shut since July 3 when security forces raided them hours after the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against his rule.

Greste thumped the metal cage the defendants were being held in as the verdicts were read out. Egyptian officials claimed the case, which began in February, was not linked to freedom of expression and that the journalists raised suspicions by operating without proper accreditation.

Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed all deny the charges and Qatar-based TV network Al Jazeera has said the accusations are absurd. Australian Premier Tony Abbott had appealed to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi for the release of Greste, a former BBC correspondent.

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