#FreeAJstaff – Three Al Jazeera journalists detained in Egypt

On December 29, 2013, Three Al Jazeera journalists – Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed – were detained in Egypt, and their colleague Abdullah Elshamy has languished in prison without charge for six months.

On January 29, 2014, the three were among 20 journalists charged with offences that include “member of a terrorist organization, disturbing public peace, instilling terror, harming the general interests of the country, possessing broadcast equipment without permit, possessing and disseminating images contrary to the truth.”

Al Jazeera says: “The accusations against our journalists do not stand up to scrutiny. Our detained team had been working in Cairo for some time and people can still watch their work online. It was all of the highest journalistic standards and integrity, as has been all our output since the start of the momentous events in Egypt three years ago.”

Over the last month, journalists (and now individuals) have been taping their mouths shut and holding up a “#FreeAJStaff” sign in calls for the release of the four journalists.

Free press is key to a free people #freeAJstaff pic.twitter.com/34sUtgExqg

— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 10, 2014

A big thank you to Italian journo @luisellacost for joining the campaign to #freeAJStaff Grazie Luisella. pic.twitter.com/zdkvd6ucZ7

— Barbara Serra (@BarbaraGSerra) February 10, 2014

A vow of silence for Al Jazeera journalists who remain in jail with no charges #FreeAJstaff. Egypt: let them speak. pic.twitter.com/QaACUhP6U5

— john stackhouse (@StackhouseJohn) February 6, 2014