3 Al Jazeera Journalists Arrested In Egypt

Lightbulb Sun · 23-06-2014 9:37pm #1

For not writing how the Egyptian government wanted them to, three Al Jazeera journalists were sentenced to prison for 7 years.

An injustice against freedom of speech, it was upsetting seeing on Channel 4 news how the parents of one of the journalists reacted in real time as they heard of the sentence.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/aljazeera-journalists-trial-three-reporters-convicted-and-sentenced-to-seven-years-in-prison-by-egyptian-court-9555715.html

wretcheddomain · 23-06-2014 9:38pm

There's no such thing as freedom of speech. There never was and never will be.

Lightbulb Sun · 23-06-2014 9:39pm

wretcheddomain wrote: »

There's no such thing as freedom of speech. There never was and never will be.

What do you think of the arrests?

wretcheddomain · 23-06-2014 9:40pm

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

What do you think of the arrests?

Horrific

Awkward Badger · 23-06-2014 9:41pm

Bit more than arrested OP.

Three journalists for the English-language Al-Jazeera news organisation have been convicted on terror charges in an Egyptian court and each sentenced to seven years in prison.

Australia's Peter Greste, the Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed were arrested in December during a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The journalists said they were reporting on the situation in Cairo at the time, covering protests held by those still supporting the ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

But prosecutors said they helped the "terrorist organisation" and damaged the national interest by publishing lies and providing equipment and information to 17 Egyptian activists.

Tail Docker · 23-06-2014 9:42pm

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

What do you think of the arrests?

I didn't find them that arresting, tbh. Anyone with a bit of cop would toddle out of egypt and then have a go. Banging off while still in the jurisdiction is slightly asking for it. I'd imagine Egypt is not alone in this regard. Big smile for the lads at the border, then gob off from a safe distance. Then again, with neighbours like Sudan, Libya and Palestine, they may have had to schlep a fair way to get the chance to have a good old safe rant.

Lightbulb Sun · 23-06-2014 9:43pm

Pugsly wrote: »

Bit more than arrested OP.

Apologies, corrected.

Sulla Felix · 23-06-2014 9:46pm

Tail Docker wrote: »

I didn't find them that arresting, tbh. Anyone with a bit of cop would toddle out of egypt and then have a go. Banging off while still in the jurisdiction is slightly asking for it. I'd imagine Egypt is not alone in this regard. Big smile for the lads at the border, then gob off from a safe distance.

Nice way to spit on a 100 years of proud journalistic and human rights' tradition.

tomwaterford · 23-06-2014 9:47pm

Tail Docker wrote: »

I didn't find them that arresting, tbh. Anyone with a bit of cop would toddle out of egypt and then have a go. Banging off while still in the jurisdiction is slightly asking for it. I'd imagine Egypt is not alone in this regard. Big smile for the lads at the border, then gob off from a safe distance. Then again, with neighbours like Sudan, Libya and Palestine, they may have had to schlep a fair way to get the chance to have a good old safe rant.

what hope have native news agencies if that's the case

Tail Docker · 23-06-2014 9:50pm

tomwaterford wrote: »

what hope have native news agencies if that's the case

Not much. I'm guessing that's my fault, as opposed to the despotic regime? My point was, dissent ahead, it's a good thing, just be aware that the security services might get huffy. Have a lash at an Irish Pol there, see how you get on, I dunno, say for example, make fun of some lad whose name sounds like a hoppy bunny?

Lightbulb Sun · 23-06-2014 9:51pm

Tail Docker wrote: »

I didn't find them that arresting, tbh. Anyone with a bit of cop would toddle out of egypt and then have a go. Banging off while still in the jurisdiction is slightly asking for it. I'd imagine Egypt is not alone in this regard. Big smile for the lads at the border, then gob off from a safe distance. Then again, with neighbours like Sudan, Libya and Palestine, they may have had to schlep a fair way to get the chance to have a good old safe rant.

Other AJ journalists were sentenced too, ones based outside of Egypt.

Tail Docker · 23-06-2014 9:52pm

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

Other AJ journalists were sentenced too, ones based outside of Egypt.

First time ever a journo didn't like a sentence. They usually love them.

Xeyn · 23-06-2014 9:53pm

Tail Docker wrote: »

Then again, with neighbours like Sudan, Libya and Palestine, they may have had to schlep a fair way to get the chance to have a good old safe rant.

Did you mean Israel?

urabell · 23-06-2014 9:53pm

Freedom of the press in a backwards country half the world away who, for the most part follow a creed I find abhorrent is so far down my list of priorities that I'd sooner take a roll of sandpaper to my c*ck than even pretend to begin to care.

tomwaterford · 23-06-2014 9:54pm

Tail Docker wrote: »

Not much. I'm guessing that's my fault, as opposed to the despotic regime? My point was, dissent ahead, it's a good thing, just be aware that the security services might get huffy. Have a lash at an Irish Pol there, see how you get on, I dunno, say for example, make fun of some lad whose name sounds like a hoppy bunny?

im honestly confused???

pat rabbit???

wretcheddomain · 23-06-2014 9:55pm

urabell wrote: »

Freedom of the press in a backwards country half the world away who for the most part follow a creed I find abhorrent is so far down my list of priorities that I'd sooner take a roll of sandpaper to my c*ck than even pretend to begin to care.

Can we see this list of priorities?

It seems this story must be pretty high if you can substitute time, which could be spent doing something higher up on that priority list, for writing that post.

Tail Docker · 23-06-2014 9:55pm

urabell wrote: »

Freedom of the press in a backwards country half the world away who for the most part follow a creed I find abhorrent is so far down my list of priorities that I'd sooner take a roll of sandpaper to my c*ck than even pretend to begin to care.

Same here, of all the ills in the Middle East, getting fraught about three journalists is a bit macro.

ZeroThreat · 23-06-2014 9:56pm

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

Other AJ journalists were sentenced too, ones based outside of Egypt.

Well Egypt be putting a lot of pressure on the countries these 'in absentia' journalists reside in to extradite, or do you think they'll attempt extraordinary rendition if refused?

Tail Docker · 23-06-2014 9:57pm

tomwaterford wrote: »

im honestly confused???

pat rabbit???

Have a google. He got huffy..

urabell · 23-06-2014 9:58pm

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Can we see this list of priorities?

It seems this story must be pretty high if you can substitute time, which could be spent doing something higher up on that priority list, for writing that post.

Spending tonight posting on an Irish internet forum is higher on my list, and yours too by the looks of things.

3 Al Jazeera Journalists Arrested In Egypt

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