Political Stitch Up
The prison sentences handed out by the Egyptian courts to various journalists can only be based on the proposition that the individuals concerned were actively making - instead of simply reporting the news.
But I have certainly not heard even a scrap of evidence to support such a claim, so the whole nasty business bears all the hallmarks of yet another political stitch up which is reported here by the BBC.
Not a good start for Egypt's new leader, General Sisi, who claims to be leading his country on a new path towards democracy, tolerance and freedom of speech
Not a good start for Egypt's new leader, General Sisi, who claims to be leading his country on a new path towards democracy, tolerance and freedom of speech
The three men are expected to appeal against their verdict
The seven-year jail terms handed out to three al-Jazeera journalists accused of supporting Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has led to an international outcry.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has described the verdict as "chilling and draconian".
Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were convicted of spreading false news and supporting the now banned Islamist group.
The trio had denied the charges and are expected to appeal against the verdict.
Mr Kerry said he had called the Egyptian foreign minister immediately after the sentence, and that he discussed these cases with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday, during his visit to Cairo as part of a regional tour, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas who is travelling with Mr Kerry.
Mr Kerry added it was now critical for the Egyptian president to move quickly to address international concerns on this.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters she was "bitterly disappointed" by the outcome. Greste, a former BBC journalist, is an Australian citizen.
"We are deeply dismayed that a sentence has been imposed and appalled at the severity of it," she added.
Peter Greste's brother Michael - who is in Cairo - said he had spoken to his parents in Australia by phone shortly after the verdict.
"It was a very difficult phone call to make. They're especially distraught and very upset by the decision. We're all very confused about the ruling that was made today. To us it defies all logic," he said.
"They just ruined a family,'' said Fahmy's brother, Adel, who attended the hearing, adding he had little faith in the system. "Everything is corrupt," he said.
'Appalled'
Eleven defendants tried in absentia, including three foreign journalists, received 10-year sentences. Two of the journalists convicted in absentia are British.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "completely appalled" and the UK Foreign Office has summoned the Egyptian ambassador over the guilty verdicts.
British Ambassador James Watt, who also attended the Cairo hearing, said he was "very disappointed" by the verdict. "Freedom of expression is fundamental to any democracy," he said.
In a statement, al-Jazeera English's managing director Al Anstey said the sentence "defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice".
Bill Shorten, leader of Australian Labor Party, tweeted: "Awful news about Peter Greste - journalists should not be jailed for doing their job #FreeAJStaff"
Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor, tweeted this: "Disgraceful 7 year sentences handed down to Al Jazeera journalists in Cairo. Egyptian euphoria after Mubarak's fall feels a world away."
Human rights group Amnesty International has also condemned the verdicts.
"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 the groups' Middle East and North Africa director Philip Luther.
Amnesty also said the trial was a "vindictive farce", a "persecution of journalists in an ongoing row between Egypt and the Gulf State Qatar", which backs the Muslim Brotherhood, reports the BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo.
The seven-year jail terms handed out to three al-Jazeera journalists accused of supporting Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has led to an international outcry.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has described the verdict as "chilling and draconian".
Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were convicted of spreading false news and supporting the now banned Islamist group.
The trio had denied the charges and are expected to appeal against the verdict.
Mr Kerry said he had called the Egyptian foreign minister immediately after the sentence, and that he discussed these cases with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday, during his visit to Cairo as part of a regional tour, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas who is travelling with Mr Kerry.
Mr Kerry added it was now critical for the Egyptian president to move quickly to address international concerns on this.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters she was "bitterly disappointed" by the outcome. Greste, a former BBC journalist, is an Australian citizen.
"We are deeply dismayed that a sentence has been imposed and appalled at the severity of it," she added.
Peter Greste's brother Michael - who is in Cairo - said he had spoken to his parents in Australia by phone shortly after the verdict.
"It was a very difficult phone call to make. They're especially distraught and very upset by the decision. We're all very confused about the ruling that was made today. To us it defies all logic," he said.
"They just ruined a family,'' said Fahmy's brother, Adel, who attended the hearing, adding he had little faith in the system. "Everything is corrupt," he said.
'Appalled'
Eleven defendants tried in absentia, including three foreign journalists, received 10-year sentences. Two of the journalists convicted in absentia are British.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "completely appalled" and the UK Foreign Office has summoned the Egyptian ambassador over the guilty verdicts.
British Ambassador James Watt, who also attended the Cairo hearing, said he was "very disappointed" by the verdict. "Freedom of expression is fundamental to any democracy," he said.
In a statement, al-Jazeera English's managing director Al Anstey said the sentence "defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice".
Bill Shorten, leader of Australian Labor Party, tweeted: "Awful news about Peter Greste - journalists should not be jailed for doing their job #FreeAJStaff"
Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor, tweeted this: "Disgraceful 7 year sentences handed down to Al Jazeera journalists in Cairo. Egyptian euphoria after Mubarak's fall feels a world away."
Human rights group Amnesty International has also condemned the verdicts.
"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 the groups' Middle East and North Africa director Philip Luther.
Amnesty also said the trial was a "vindictive farce", a "persecution of journalists in an ongoing row between Egypt and the Gulf State Qatar", which backs the Muslim Brotherhood, reports the BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo.
