Jailed Al Jazeera Journalists Convicted in Egypt

By Merrill Knox 

detained al jazeera journalistsSix months after their arrest in Egypt, three Al Jazeera journalists have been found guilty of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, the network reports:

The guilty verdicts were delivered by a judge on Monday against Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in jail, while Mohamed was sentenced to an additional three years for possession of ammunition.

Other Al Jazeera journalists being tried in absentia were sentenced to 10 years. Their names are: Alaa Bayoumi, Anas Abdel-Wahab Khalawi Hasan, Khaleel Aly Khaleel Bahnasy, Mohamed Fawzi, Dominic Kane and Sue Turton.

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Al Jazeera has always rejected the charges against its journalists and maintains their innocence.

In a statement, Al Jazeera English managing director Al Ansteysaid: “Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue to be kept 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. At no point during the long drawn out ‘trial’ did the absurd allegations stand up to scrutiny. There is only one sensible outcome now — for the verdict to be overturned, and justice to be recognised by Egypt.”

CNN correspondent Ivan Watson reported on the verdict from outside the court in Cairo this morning. Watch:

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