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Respecting freedom of expression

Jun 25,2014 - Last updated at Jun 25,2014

There has been wide criticism of the recent Egyptian court decision to sentence three journalists to long prison terms for allegedly violating the laws of the country, including for allegedly being in league with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, sympathetic to its cause.

Countries are usually reluctant to interfere in the judicial proceeding of any other country out of respect for the independence of the judiciary. This, of course, includes Egypt’s criminal court system.

Yet, the fact that the persons sentenced are journalists who usually, by virtue of their profession, take huge risks to report in any given situation and work tirelessly under stress, often exposed to dangers, gives the case of the three journalists in Egypt a special character, warranting intervention on their behalf.

Freedom of the press is a basic pillar of democracies worldwide. It must be guarded and promoted as long as it is reasonable and does not incite civil strife, perpetration of crimes or disturbance of public order.

The three condemned Egyptian journalists did not commit any noticeable crime. Even if their reporting may have been biased in the eyes of the government, this is no cause to arrest them and keep them in detention for such a long period without them having their day in court.

There is now only one way to end this threat to the image and reputation of the country and its judicial system, and that is to pardon the three journalists.

It is within the prerogative of the new Egyptian president to pardon them, and by so doing, end their ordeal and put an end to the outcry against their conviction.

The new leadership in Egypt surely wants to open a new page in the history of his country. What better way than by showing respect for freedom of expression and pardoning the journalists in question?

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