Media rallies for Peter Greste’s release from Egyptian jail
Senior Australian journalists are adding their voices to a global campaign to free journalist Peter Greste and his colleagues from an Egyptian jail.
Network Ten news anchor Hugh Riminton and Sky News journalist Tracey Spicer delivered a statement on behalf of around 100 media and human rights organisations to the Egyptian consulate in Sydney on Monday.
It urges Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to immediately release the three Al Jazeera English journalists, including Australian Mr Greste.
“We urge the Egyptian government to overturn the verdict so that it is not a precedent to be used against other journalists in the future,” the statement read.
“We urge that both local and foreign journalists working in Egypt be free to carry out their duties without harassment, intimidation or violence.”
Mr Greste and his Al Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were found guilty last week of reporting false news in the wake of the 2013 coup that ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
The Australian reporter was given a seven-year sentence.
They were also convicted of supporting Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist organisation after the coup.