Amal Clooney warns of 'dangerous message' as three journalists sentenced
Human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney has criticised the three-year sentences handed down to three Al-Jazeera English journalists.
Clooney, who represented Canadian national Mohammed Fahmy in the trial, said that "everyone has said there is no evidence to sustain any of the charges''.
The other two convicted journalists are Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed.
Clooney said: “The verdict today sends a very dangerous message in Egypt. It sends a message that journalists can be locked up for simply doing their job, for telling the truth and reporting the news.
“It sends a dangerous message that there are judges in Egypt who will allow their courts to become instruments of political repression and propaganda.”
Clooney added she hoped Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi would pardon the three journalists.
Amnesty International called the sentences the “death knell for freedom of expression in Egypt”.
Philip Luther, director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa programme, said: “The fact that two of these journalists are now facing time in jail following two grossly unfair trials makes a mockery of justice in Egypt.
“Today’s verdict must be overturned immediately. Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed should be allowed to walk free without conditions.
“We consider them to be prisoners of conscience, jailed solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.”
