Journalism is not a crime. But after the events in Egypt, how can we be sure?
As journalists, it is our job is to report the facts through a medium to inform society of the world and to provide the people with vital information.
But too often the government of a nation will be angered by this power, as has been seen in countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, and they strike back with a force that usually results in incarceration or death for the journalist in question.
Much of this gets no coverage, as the example scares those who have the ability to report into hiding.
In my travels through South East Asia I heard stories of the victimised journalists. I saw the fear the locals tried to mask when simply talking about high ranking officials and their methods.
Enter Australian journalist Peter Greste, sentenced to jail for seven years.
The reason: for aiding a black-listed Muslim brotherhood, with nothing to back the claims.
Despite having the support of the Australian government, Greste faced a hot and crowded courtroom in Cairo and was handed the guilty verdict alongside his colleagues.
Greste is accused of supporting terrorism, of spreading false news and of being a threat to the country, having already been locked up for six months.
The justice system in Egypt is corrupt. Where is the freedom of expression?
The government is military installed. Less than half of the defendants were associated with the publication that supposedly supported the brotherhood. The others were accused of having no right to work in the country.
Egypt needs to be careful, because starting international anger is the most dangerous action possible. Don’t threaten peace.
They are trying to make an example of a journalist. They are trying to scare us into silence. There has been no evidence, no support for their theories and there never will be. If you’re trying to make an example of someone, be careful who you choose.
The family and Australia won’t take this lying down. Neither will every journalist with access to an opinionated forum.
It has been described as a setback for Egypt, a deeply disturbing scenario that will hinder their transition to stability.
Peter Greste needs to be freed immediately, as pressure builds for his release. But there is a feeling that his prosecutors will be stubborn in their stance, sticking to a decision that makes no sense in any language.
He appears to be a driven man, and having survived in his tiny cell in a notorious prison is a testament to him and to his family.
When he gets out, and he will, my hope is that he returns to Australia and leads an attack on the growing corruption not just in Egypt’s government, but in every other moustache-twisting government across the world.
People want the news, they want to read about the world and everything in it. Let us do our job.
Chris Sutton
