Mohamed Fahmy sentenced to three years in prison

A court in Egypt sentenced Al-Jazeera journalist and two of his colleagues to three years in prison on Saturday, the latest twist in a highly publicized case that has sparked global condemnation of the Egyptian government. Canadian citizen Mohamed Fahmy, who served as the acting Cairo bureau chief of Al Jazeera English, was present in court along with Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed. Australian correspondent Peter Greste was deported earlier this year and convicted in absentia.
Judge Hassan Farid began his verdict by addressing, “the great Egyptian people.”
He went on to say that the defendants “are not journalists” and that they were using unlicensed equipment, operating without proper permission and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt. Baher Mohamed received an additional six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 Egyptian pounds. Fahmy’s lawyer, Amal Clooney, who had flown into Egypt the night before to attend the session, said she would be holding a series of meetings with Egyptian officials where she would ask for a pardon or deportation for her client.
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