BOTH the Guyana Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have joined other countries the world over in condemning the sentencing in Egypt Monday of three Al Jazeera journalists to a total of 17 years imprisonment.

Two of the men, Peter Greste, Al Jazeera’s East Africa correspondent, and Mohamed Fahmy, were each sentenced to seven years in prison, while a third, Baher Mohamed, was sentenced to an additional three years for possession of ammunition. Mohamed was reportedly in possession of a spent bullet casing he had found on the ground during a protest. Among those tried in absentia were Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, who were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.
According to a statement issued via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said:
“The Government of Guyana wishes to express its deep concern over the sentencing, by an Egyptian Court, of three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison.
“This act by the Egyptian authorities is an affront to the principles which govern press freedom the world over. The Government of Guyana believes that freedom of the press is essential for the full and effective exercise of freedom of expression, and an indispensable instrument for the functioning of representative democracy, through which individuals exercise their right to receive, impart and seek information.
In this regard, the Government of Guyana joins calls by the international community for their immediate release.”
The PPP, meanwhile, said in its statement:
“The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) vehemently condemns the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists by the Egyptian regime. The three journalists — Australian Peter Greste, Canadian-Egyptian national, Mohamed Fahmy, and Cairo Bureau Chief — were all detained and charged since December last with helping a “terrorist group” , a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood which was overthrown and subsequently banned by the military junta headed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

“The PPP is convinced that the decision to jail the journalists is political in nature and not the result of any wrongdoing on the part of the journalists.

“The PPP also wishes to voice its condemnation over the impending execution of the Spiritual Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and over 180 others. The Muslim Brotherhood is led by Mohamed Mursi who is currently behind bars despite the fact that he won Egypt’s first ever democratic elections and should therefore be the legitimate and democratically elected President of Egypt.

“The PPP is of the view that the recently held election which installed Abdel Fattah Sisi as President is nothing but a farce intended to whitewash his image and that of the military junta and deserves the full condemnation of the free and democratic world.

“These two latest actions by the military- led government (now in civilian clothing) of military strong man Sisi is consistent with a long list of human rights abuses by the military which is using its military muscle to stifle and suppress the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people.

“The PPP joins the call by the United Nations and other concerned individuals and parties for the unconditional release of the jailed journalists and the immediate release of all political prisoners. In this regard, the PPP fully endorses the position taken by the United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay that there is a risk that miscarriage of justice is becoming a norm in Egypt.
“The PPP also calls on the United States and other western powers to condemn this most recent act of political barbarism against the journalists and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is significant that the ruling to jail the journalists came just one day after US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the newly elected Egyptian President which must be an affront and source of much embarrassment to both the United States and Kerry who described the move as “chilling and draconian.”

“The right to freedom of expression and to participate in the political life of any society is fundamental to civilization and must be condemned when such freedoms are under threat as in the case of Egypt today.”