Three Al-Jazeera journalists jailed by Egypt for alleged
ties with Islamists filed appeals Thursday against their convictions, their
network said in a statement.
Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel
Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were convicted in June of aiding the
blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood and spreading false news that portrayed Egypt as
being in a state of “civil war”.
Greste and Fahmy received seven-year terms, while Mohamed
was jailed for 10 years, in a case that sparked international outrage.
Eleven defendants tried in absentia, including one Dutch and
two British journalists, were given 10-year sentences.
“Lawyers for the jailed Al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt have
today filed appeals against their convictions,” the network said.
“The weaknesses in the case have been widely protested and
ridiculed, and much of the public criticism is reflected in the grounds for
appeal,” it said.
Al-Jazeera said the case would be heard before the Court of
Cassation “which will examine the grounds for hearing a full appeal”, but that
the date has not yet been set.
It cited as grounds for appeal five key points, including
“flaws in the arrest procedure” as well as “the fact that evidence presented in
court did not marry with the charges”.
“The appeal will lay bare the flaws in the case against
Peter, Baher and Mohammed,” said Al Anstey, the managing director of Al-Jazeera
English.
“We look forward to them being exonerated in due course. We
will not stop in this quest till they are reunited with their families, and
back doing the jobs they love.”
Al-Jazeera .
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