British foreign secretary appalled by verdict on journalists in Egypt

British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said on Monday in London that he was appalled by an Egyptian court returning guilty verdicts on Monday against Egyptian and international journalists in Egypt.
“I am particularly concerned by unacceptable procedural shortcomings during the trial process, including that key prosecution evidence was not made available to the defence team,” Hague said.
Hague said the freedom of the press was a cornerstone of a stable and prosperous society.
He said the British government and the Commonwealth have repeatedly raised this case and the restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt with President Al Sisi, the Egyptian foreign minister and wider authorities in Egypt.
Reports say an Egyptian court on Monday sentenced three Al Jazeera journalists to between seven years 10 years in jail over charges of aiding the currently blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.
The journalists included Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and producer Baher Mohamed, who work for the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV.
Another three foreigners, including British Al Jazeera journalists Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, were each given 10 years in absentia.
Hague said the British ministers and diplomats would continue to urge the Egyptian government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency.
He said he had instructed officials to summon the Egyptian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ashraf Elkholy to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Xinhua/NAN.