The Association for International Broadcasting has expressed its outrage at sentences imposed by a court in Cairo on three Al Jazeera journalists on 29 August. Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Peter Greste were sentenced to three years imprisonment following convictions of disseminating false information and working without a licence.

“The AIB condemns the sentences imposed on the three Al Jazeera journalists, which we see as a political statement by the Egyptian government,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “It is clear that the three journalists did not commit any crime and that the verdict demonstrates the failure of integrity of the judicial system in Egypt. Furthermore, it casts severe doubt on press freedom in Egypt where it is estimated more than 20 journalists are currently imprisoned.”

This high profile case has dragged on for months with conflicting messages being issued by the judiciary and by the executive throughout.

The three journalists were released in February 2015 after being detained for more than a year in jail. Peter Greste was tried in absentia following his deportation to Australia in February. Baher Mohamed was given a further six month sentence for possessing a bullet.

AIB believes that the sentences – together with the continued detention of other journalists in Egypt – are blows against freedom of expression in Egypt. Furthermore, the actions of the Egyptian authorities work against the interests of the country’s citizens whose access to news and information is being curtailed by the government.

AIB will be taking up the issue with the Egyptian authorities.

Download the PDF version of the AIB press release here.