Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste were
today Saturday August 29th sentenced to three years in
prison for ;operating without a press license & broadcasting
material harmful to Egypt.'
The verdict in a retrial was issued against Mohamed
Fahmy, a naturalized Canadian who has given up his
Egyptian citizenship, Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, and
Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February
and sentenced in absentia.
Egyptian judge Hassan Farid said he issued his ruling
because the three weren't registered with the country's
journalist syndicate. He also added that the journalists
brought equipment without the approval of security
officials into Egypt, as well as spread 'false news' and used
a hotel as a broadcasting point without permission.
Reacting to the verdict which sparked international outcry,
the acting director general of the Qatar-based news
network, Mostefa Souag said in a statement:
"Today's verdict defies logic and common sense.
Our colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed
Fahmy will now have to return to prison, and Peter
Greste is sentenced in absentia. Today's verdict is
yet another deliberate attack on press freedom. It
is a dark day for the Egyptian judiciary; rather
than defend liberties and a free and fair media
they have compromised their independence for
political reasons.”
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