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       Al-Jazeera Journalists Await Appeal After 1 Year in Egyptian Jail

   by VOA News

   Three Al-Jazeera journalists are marking one year since they were
   arrested in Egypt on charges of supporting the banned Muslim
   Brotherhood, as they look toward a court date Thursday to appeal their
   case.

   Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy are in
   prison on seven-year sentences, while their Egyptian colleague Baher
   Mohamed is serving a 10-year sentence.

   Greste's brother Michael told reporters Monday that the family has to
   be hopeful the court appeal will lead to the journalists' release.

   "The first of January marks the next milestone in the judicial process
   and we see this as the next available opportunity for the Egyptian
   authorities to correct the injustice that's occurred.  It is important
   that we continue to maintain the spotlight on the judicial process and
   ensure that it continues to be scrutinized," said Greste.

   Egyptian President Mohamed Fattah el-Sissi said after the journalists
   were convicted in July that the decision must be respected and he would
   not interfere.

   Al-Jazeera has insisted its workers were simply doing their jobs
   reporting the news, and the news agency called the verdict against them
   "shocking."

   The case and the government's reaction have brought international
   condemnation from leaders, journalists, press freedom groups and social
   media users.

   Jane Worthington, acting director at the Asia-Pacific office for the
   International Federation of Journalists, said Monday that "journalists
   are under attack" and that the efforts to free the group from
   Al-Jazeera will continue as long as necessary.

   "The campaign has not lost its energy. People are not going to give up
   about Peter and will keep going until justice is delivered and he is
   allowed to go," said Worthington.

   Greste wrote a letter to his supporters last week saying the case has
   brought global awareness to "the far wider and more vital issues of
   press freedom, the persecution of journalists, and of justice in
   Egypt."

   He said the attention has sent a clear message to politicians that "a
   free press is an indivisible part of a free society."

   Paris-based Reporters Without Borders also reiterated last week its
   call for Egypt to release the journalists. Program Director Lucie
   Morillon said "their arbitrary conviction perfectly illustrates how the
   regime has been cracking down on foreign and local media personnel with
   real or imagined links to the Muslim Brotherhood."

   The group says Egyptian authorities arbitrarily arrested 30 journalists
   this year, and that at least 20 of them remain in custody.

   The Egyptian government carried a violent crackdown against the
   Brotherhood after Sissi, then the defense minister, ousted former
   President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The campaign also included authorities
   arresting many of the Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, who is in
   jail awaiting multiple trials.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/al-jazeera-journalists-await-appeal-a
   fter-year-in-egyptian-jail/2577169.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/al-jazeera-journalists-await-appeal-after-year-in-egyptian-jail/2577169.html