clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

UN chief regrets sentencing of Al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt

September 1, 2015 at 9:32 am

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed deep regret over the Egyptian court’s decision to uphold the sentencing of three Al-Jazeera journalists.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening by his spokesperson in New York Estefan Dogrec, Ban-Ki-Moon expressed deep regret over the sentencing of journalists Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste (in absentia), as well as others.

“The Secretary-General recalls his earlier appeals for their cases to be resolved expeditiously and in accordance with Egypt’s international obligations to protect freedom of expression and association and in full observance of due process guarantees,” the statement said.

The three journalists are accused of spreading false news and harming national interest.

Three other Egyptian defendants also received a similar sentence for helping the Al-Jazeera journalists. Two further defendants were acquitted.