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Cairo prosecutors seek 15-year term for Al Jazeera journalists
Rebecca Hawkes
| 06 June 2014
Egyptian prosecutors have called for the maximum penalty of 15 years in jail for three Al Jazeera journalists accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
Closing arguments for the prosecution were heard in court on Thursday (5 June) in the case against Baher Mohamed, Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy.
The court heard that the three journalists had used "selective filming" to unfairly portray a protest against Mohamed Morsi in Tahrir Square on 30 June 2013, reports Al Jazeera. The president was overthrown by the army soon after.
"None of the accused was in Egypt at the time," the Qatar-based broadcaster said.
In opening, the defence told the court the Al Jazeera journalists were part of a show trial manufactured to appease public opinion.
A fourth Al Jazeera reporter, Abdullah Elshamy, remains on hunger strike after being jailed without charge since August 2013. The next hearing in his case is now scheduled for 11 June.
Al Jazeera has refuted all of the charges against Mohamed, Greste and Fahmy, and is calling for the immediate release of all four journalists from Egypt.
Rebecca Hawkes
| 06 June 2014
Egyptian prosecutors have called for the maximum penalty of 15 years in jail for three Al Jazeera journalists accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
Closing arguments for the prosecution were heard in court on Thursday (5 June) in the case against Baher Mohamed, Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy.
The court heard that the three journalists had used "selective filming" to unfairly portray a protest against Mohamed Morsi in Tahrir Square on 30 June 2013, reports Al Jazeera. The president was overthrown by the army soon after.
"None of the accused was in Egypt at the time," the Qatar-based broadcaster said.
In opening, the defence told the court the Al Jazeera journalists were part of a show trial manufactured to appease public opinion.
A fourth Al Jazeera reporter, Abdullah Elshamy, remains on hunger strike after being jailed without charge since August 2013. The next hearing in his case is now scheduled for 11 June.
Al Jazeera has refuted all of the charges against Mohamed, Greste and Fahmy, and is calling for the immediate release of all four journalists from Egypt.
