07. 07. 2014

Sisi: Egypt should have deported journalists

Three journalists - Australian Peter Greste, Canadian-Egyptian national Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohammed were sentenced to between 7 and 10 years in prison for allegedly defaming Egypt and aiding banned islamist movements in the country.

The ruling sparked a global outcry and many demands for a presidential pardon.

"The sentencing of three journalists on 23 June had a very negative effect. I wish they were deported after the arrest instead of being put on trial", Sisi said to journalists.

In his statement about deportation, Sisi obviously referred to Greste, the only one of the three who is not Egyptian, AFP reports.

The verdict was issued a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Egypt in a show of support to newly-elected Sisi.

Washington described the sentencing of the journalists as "draconian" and called on Sisi to release them, while the United Nations said imprisoning them was "obscene."

Former army chief Sisi, who won elections last May, a year after overthrowing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, had said he would not interfere with Egypt's courts, which the government says are independent.