#FreeAJstaff - Release detained Al Jazeera journalists
- by: Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
- recipient: Egyptian authorities
On June 23, 2014, Al Jazeera English journalists Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed were convicted of terrorism charges after what essentially amounted to a sham trial. Fahmy and Greste were sentenced to seven years in prison for spreading false news and aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Their Al Jazeera English colleague Baher Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years, due to the additional charge of possession of ammunition. Court proceedings were marked by a complete and utter lack of proper judicial process and legitimate evidence to substantiate the charges.
The three journalists have been detained in Egypt since December 29, 2013 and on January 29, 2014, the three were among 20 individuals charged with offenses that include “membership of a terrorist organization, disturbing public peace, instilling terror, harming the general interests of the country, possessing broadcast equipment without permit, possessing and disseminating images contrary to the truth." Throughout their imprisonment they have been placed in horrible conditions when all they are guilty of is doing their jobs as journalists.
We, the undersigned individuals, journalists, news and non-governmental organizations who are advocates of press freedom ask the Egyptian authorities to stop their persecution and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Canadian-Egyptian producer Mohamed Fahmy, Australian correspondent Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed, and all other detained journalists.
We aspire that Egypt be a proponent of democracy by enabling reporters to carry out their professions without fear of retribution and by empowering diverse voices for the purpose of building a greater Egypt with tolerance, civil liberties and understanding.
On June 23, 2014, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste were sentenced to seven years in an Egyptian jail for spreading false news and aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Their Al Jazeera English colleague Baher Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years, due to the additional charge of possession of ammunition. CJFE continues to advocate for their release and for their convictions to be repealed.
Background
Three Al Jazeera journalists have been detained in Egypt since December 29, 2013. Since their arrest, the three journalists have been placed in horrible conditions when all they are guilty of is doing their jobs as journalists. On January 29, 2014, the three were among 20 journalists were charged with offenses that include “member of a terrorist organization, disturbing public peace, instilling terror, harming the general interests of the country, possessing broadcast equipment without permit, possessing and disseminating images contrary to the truth."
We, the undersigned individuals, journalists, news and non-governmental organizations who are advocates of press freedom ask the Egyptian authorities to stop their persecution and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Canadian-Egyptian producer Mohamed Fahmy, Australian correspondent Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed, and all other detained journalists.
We aspire that Egypt be a proponent of democracy by enabling reporters to carry out their professions without fear of retribution and by empowering diverse voices for the purpose of building a greater Egypt with tolerance, civil liberties and understanding.
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