Egypt verdict “defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice”
• “Not a shred of evidence” against journalists
• “We will continue with resolve until Peter, Baher and Mohammed are free”
Following today’s verdict in Cairo, Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey said:
“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. At no point during the long drawn out “trial” did
the absurd allegations stand up to scrutiny. There were many moments during the hearings where in any other court of
law, the trial would be thrown out. There were numerous irregularities in addition to the lack of evidence to stand up
the ill-conceived allegations.
“There is no justification whatsoever in the detention of our three colleagues for even one minute. To have detained
them for 177 Days is an outrage. To have sentenced them defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice.
“The support shown for Mohamed, Peter, and Baher has been loud, unified, and determined, and has come from every corner
of the world. The call for their freedom has come from journalists, people right around the globe, as well as leaders
worldwide. This great solidarity is a stand for basic freedoms - the freedom of speech, for the right for people to be
informed, and for the right for journalists around the world to be able to do their job. And, of course, a demand to
free our colleagues.
“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. The authorities in Egypt need to take responsibility
for their actions, and be held to account by the global community.
“We will continue with resolve and determination until Baher, Peter, and Mohamed are free and safely reunited with their
families.”
ENDS