28-03-2024 02:36 PM Jerusalem Timing

Sisi Pledges Egypt Authorities “Won’t Interfere” in Judicial Affairs

Sisi Pledges Egypt Authorities “Won’t Interfere” in Judicial Affairs

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Tuesday that Egypt’s authorities "will not interfere in judicial matters" a day after three Al-Jazeera journalists were jailed for between seven and 10 years.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Tuesday that Egypt's authorities "will not interfere in judicial matters" a day after three Al-Jazeera journalists were jailed for between seven and 10 years.

Sisi said on Tuesday he had called the justice minister to stress that the authorities "will not interfere in judicial matters".

In a televised speech at a military graduation ceremony, the newly-elected president said: "We have to respect judicial rulings and not comment on them even if others don't understand them."

Eleven defendants tried in absentia, including one Dutch journalist and two British journalists, were given 10-year sentences.

Award-winning Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy each got seven-year terms in a Cairo court, while Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed received two sentences of seven and three years.

Monday's verdicts sparked an international outcry, with Australia saying it was "appalled" and US Secretary of State John Kerry denouncing "a chilling and draconian sentence".