Egypt’s Al-Jazeera Verdict ‘Chilling and Draconian’: US Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the sentencing of three Al-Jazeera journalists to jail terms from seven to 10 years by an Egyptian court, in comments in Baghdad on Monday.

“Today’s conviction is obviously a chilling and draconian sentence,” Kerry told journalists on a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital.

“When I heard the verdict today I was so concerned about it, frankly, disappointed in it, that I immediately picked up the telephone and talked to the foreign minister of Egypt and registered our serious displeasure at this kind of verdict,” he said.

On Monday, a Cairo court sentenced three Al Jazeera journalists, among 20 people on trial, to jail terms ranging from seven to 10 years after accusing them of aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Source: AFP