U.S. Journalists Spread Awareness After 3 Al Jazeera Journalists Jailed In Egypt

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  • Source: www.youtube.com / Via: www.youtube.com

    Three Al Jazeera journalists were jailed for seven years after aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, a group the Egyptian government has deemed as “terrorists.” Above is a 60-second video, briefly explaining the background story to the current situation on the journalists.

    The three journalists, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were jailed in December after harming Egyptian national security by spreading lies and providing important information to the group. Each of the men deny all the charges against them.

    The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Egypt after the former President Mohamed Morsi, who considered himself part of the Muslim Brotherhood, was protested and removed from office in July.

    Al Jazeera’s owners support the Muslim Brotherhood, forming a peaceful relationship between the organization and the news outlet.

    According to Reuters, the men looked hopeful walking into the courtroom before their verdict thinking they would get out of their sentencing due to a lack of evidence.

    “This is terribly devastating,” Michael Greste, Peter Greste’s brother said. “I am stunned and dumbstruck. I’ve no other words.”

    It’s not just the journalists and their families who are in awe over the verdict. U.S. citizens, humanitarian organizations and other fellow journalists are all concerned and trying to raise awareness in hopes of overturning the verdict.

    To raise awareness, many have taken to social media to spread the story using the hashtags #JournalismIsNotACrime and #FreeAJStaff. Some journalists have taken the cause a bit further and have posted pictures of them with their mouthes covered up.

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