SENIOR British Politicians have condemned Egyptian authorities over today's sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists.
Prime Minister David Cameron said that he "was completely appalled" by the seven year sentences for two of the men, with a third given ten years, for effectively reporting in the situation within Egypt.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has reportedly summoned the Egyptian Ambassador to discuss the disturbing development in the country's slide back to an authoritarian state.
The three men, who continue to protest their innocence, include Australian Peter Greste, Al Jazeera's Kenya-based correspondent, Baher Mohamed and Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy, Cairo bureau chief of Al Jazeera English. They were accused of aiding the former political party the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been categorised as a terrorist organisation by Egypt's current leadership, and reporting false news.
A further six Journalists, two of whom are British, were convicted in abstentia. Mr Hague has called upon the Egyptian authorities, along with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to review the sentences.
Attempting to cover the news of their imprisoned colleagues journalists from Al Jazeera were forced to rely on information from other broadcasters after being banned from operating in the country.
In a statement following the ruling, Al Jazeera English's managing director Al Anstey said the sentence "defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice".
“Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue behind bars for doing a brilliant job of being great journalists. “Guilty” of covering stories with great skill and integrity. ”Guilty” of defending people’s right to know what is going on in their world.
“Peter, Mohamed, and Baher and six of our other colleagues were sentenced despite the fact that not a shred of evidence was found to support the extraordinary and false charges against them.
"There is only one sensible outcome now. For the verdict to be overturned, and justice to be recognised by Egypt. We must keep our voice loud to call for an end to their detention. Alongside us is a worldwide solidarity, a global call for their release, and a demand for basic freedoms to be respected."
Human rights group Amnesty International have classified the three imprisoned journalists as "prisoners of conscience" and condemned the ruling, based on trumped up charges and no evidence, as an attempt to silence what is left of freedom of speech in Egypt.
"This is a devastating verdict for the men and their families, and a dark day for media freedom in Egypt, when journalists are being locked up and branded criminals or ‘terrorists’ simply for doing their job,” said Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
“The only reason these three men are in jail is because the Egyptian authorities don’t like what they have to say. They are prisoners of conscience and must be immediately and unconditionally released. In Egypt today anyone who dares to challenge the state’s narrative is considered a legitimate target.”
A shadow hangs heavily over the hopes which so many had following the Arab Spring and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. While Mr Hague appeals to the Egyptian government to respect press freedoms there will be many who see this as a direct assault on liberty. Today's guilty verdicts will be seen as further evidence of President Sisi's hardline attitude to anything which may threaten his authoritarian power, and lead to renewed calls for genuine freedom and democracy in the country.
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