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#FreeAJStaff: Al Jazeera Reporter Sentenced in Absentia Decries Egypt’s Imprisonment of 3 Colleagues
Transcript
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Journalists are continuing protests across the globe over Egypts sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists to between seven and 10 years in prison. Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were convicted on Monday of, quote, "spreading false news" in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, deemed by the government a "terrorist group." On Tuesday, staffers at the BBC took part in a one-minute silent protest. James Harding is BBCs news director.
JAMES HARDING: Well, I think there are two things. I think theres a simple thing, which is to send a message to people in Egypt. You know, this is a country which, obviously, as weve been reporting on the BBC, on all news outlets, is going through an extraordinary set of changes. And this is an important principle, we think, for Egypt, but for people around the world, the principle of journalistic freedom. And we want to do that in a considered and measured way, and thats why we chose an act of solidarity, a silent protest, a way of standing alongside those people, those journalists who have been imprisoned, but to try and raise a message. In addition to that, weve drafted a letter that were sending to President el-Sisi. Its been signed by a host of news organizations, from NBC to Sky to ITN. And were going to be sending that, as well, which makes a more detailed case. But in this moment, it was for journalists to stand with our fellow journalists.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: That was James Harding, the BBCs news director. Peter Greste used to work at the BBC. At Channel 4 News in Britain and other news outlets, journalists placed black tape across their mouths in solidarity with their jailed colleagues. Online, the hashtag #FreeAJStaff has been trending for days.
And the Al Jazeera reporters are not alone. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Egypt is currently holding at least 11 other journalists in prison, placing Egypt among the worlds worst repressors of press freedom.
Show Full Transcript http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/25/freeajstaff_al_jazeera_reporter_sentenced_in
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#FreeAJStaff: Al Jazeera Reporter Sentenced in Absentia Decries Egypt’s Imprisonment of 3 Colleagues (Original Post)
Jefferson23
Jun 2014
OP
Interesting that PBS Margaret Carlson had her life saved by one of the Egyptian Reporters
KoKo
Jun 2014
#1
I know, it maked me cringe to read they were getting the money regardless. n/t
Jefferson23
Jun 2014
#2
KoKo
(84,711 posts)1. Interesting that PBS Margaret Carlson had her life saved by one of the Egyptian Reporters
and that was a great interview with the British Journalist describing how British Media is up in arms over journalists who cover Egypt being targeted. She herself can no longer report in the ME which is her job because she will be arrested.
This is a big deal in that Al Jazerra reporters are being targeted under suspicions of aiding terrorists. Kerry shouldn't have promised to give military aid to Egypt given their treatment of the three journalists and the 12 others held captive.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)2. I know, it maked me cringe to read they were getting the money regardless. n/t