Egypt: Release Journalists and Protect Freedom of Expression
The three journalists – Australian Peter Greste, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed, all considered by Amnesty International to be prisoners of conscience – were sentenced to seven years in jail. Baher Mohamed received a further three years on a separate charge of possessing a bullet shell. They have been detained since 29 December 2013.
Their crime? Reporting the news and challenging the “official version” presented by the authorities. Amnesty International believes they are prisoners of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The three men were detained on December 29, 2013 and later charged with falsifying news and belonging to or assisting a banned terrorist organization. Their trial was grossly unfair. Amnesty International fears that their prosecution was an attempt to punish the journalists for Al Jazeera's editorial line. The channel has been accused of being biased towards the now banned Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Join Amnesty’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohamed Fahmy and his Al Jazeera colleagues.
Dear Minister of Justice Nayer Abdel-Moneim Othman,
Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed were convicted and sentenced simply for reporting the news. Amnesty International believes they are prisoners of conscience.
The Egyptian government should respect freedom of expression and allow journalists to carry out independent reporting into all issues, including criticizing the government, without the threat of intimidation or arrest.
[Your comments here]
I call on you to:
Immediately and unconditionally release Mohamed Fahmy , Peter Greste, and Baher Mohamed.
drop all charges against the journalists and others held in prison solely for peaceful expression and protest.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
