Al-Jazeera journalists call for international support over terrorism charges
A group of journalists working for the Al-Jazeera television channel are appealing to western governments for help after they were arrested by Egypt’s military government on alleged terrorism charges.
The government claims that the individuals were members of a ‘terror cell’ intent on undermining the Egyptian state but the defendants state that their treatment is undermining press freedom in the country.
Several of the defendants used a court appearance behind a caged dock to complain of ill-treatment with Australian reporter Peter Greste being kept in isolation and Egyptian-Canadian producer Mohammed Fahmy being denied treatment for a broken shoulder – an injury he sustained prior to arrest.
A third journalist, Baher Mohammad, further accuses Egyptian police of violating his wife’s privacy and killing his dog during a raid on their home.
The trio are amongst 20 people facing charges of aiding and abetting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, stoking protests around the world to secure their release.