On Egypt’s targeting of journalists

The jailing of Al-Jazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed by an Egyptian court is an indictment of Egypt’s so-called justice system. The trio were found guilty in late June of tarnishing Egypt’s image through their reporting of events in the country. They have been sentenced to between seven and ten years. Others were convicted in absentia.

The targeting of these journalists constitutes an open threat to all media reporting in the country – print journalists, commentators, independent broadcasters and bloggers alike. All are now potential targets of Egypt’s increasingly confident counter-revolution, led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The military and security services have continued their crackdown on democratic rights. Almost 1,000 military trials of civilians have taken place in the past year. Up to 40,000 people, possibly more, have been imprisoned. Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been sentenced to death. Hundreds of activists are detained in military torture chambers.

Red Flag backs calls for the release of Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed. We back calls for the release of all political prisoners in Egypt. We send our solidarity wishes to all those suffering under the regime of el-Sisi.

عيش، حرية، عدالة اجتماعية“Bread, freedom, social justice”

How you can help:

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, together with the International Federation of Journalists and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, has initiated a campaign among journalist unions and media organisations to write to the Egyptian government demanding the release of the Al Jazeera staff.

You can add the name of your organisation at ifex.org/egypt/2014/06/23/aj_staff

You can write to Peter Greste using this email address: freepetergreste@gmail.com