Australia ‘shocked’ at Jazeera’s Greste Egyptian verdict

Australian government has expressed shock at verdict against Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste.

Greste was sentenced to seven years by an Egyptian court Monday for aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood. Al Jazeera colleagues, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy was also sentenced to seven years while producer Baher Mohamed received two sentences — one for seven years and another for three years.

The three were among 20 defendants in a trial that has triggered international outrage amid fears of growing media restrictions in Egypt.

Nine defendants who were tried in absentia, including three foreign journalists, were sentenced to 10 years, while two defendants were acquitted.

“The Australian government is shocked at the verdict,” said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. “We are deeply dismayed that a sentence has been imposed and appalled at the severity of it.”