Brussels, 31/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 29 August, the European Union criticised an Egyptian court's sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists -Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed, and Australian Peter Greste - to three years' imprisonment. The EU called again for their immediate release and said it looked forward to the appeals procedure. The journalists were found guilty of “spreading false information” to support the Muslim Brotherhood, and of having worked without the required authorisation.
“Free, diverse and independent media are essential in a democratic society and we expect active steps to be taken to promote a safe environment for journalists”, said the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in a press release.
Mogherini's spokesperson described the sentencing of Fahmy and Mohamed as “a setback for freedom of expression in Egypt”. The spokesperson also said that Greste's sentencing in absentia further challenged the credibility process, and the spokesperson reiterated that this was “in breach of Egypt's obligations under international law”.
According to a report published this summer by the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently at least 18 journalists in prison in Egypt. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)