Free Al Jazeera Staff in Egypt

Al Jazeera journalists Mohamad Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed have been detained since December 29, 2013 by Egyptian authorities. On January 29, 2014, a total of 23 journalists were charged with a variety of serious charges including “instilling terror” and “possessing and disseminating images contrary to the truth." Canadian journalist for Aljazeera, Mohamad Fahmy’s trial is scheduled for February 20th.

As supporters of the free press, in Egypt and elsewhere, we feel that Western governments, notably the Australian, British, American and Canadian governments, have done little to contact or influence Egyptian authorities to arrange for the release of these journalists. By not directly addressing or challenging the trumped up charges against these journalists, they have forced these men to bear terrible conditions, allowed them to be stripped of their dignity and smeared as terrorists.

The positive side of this situation is that it has highlighted the plight of the press in countries like Egypt that face risks and threats to their wellbeing in order to bring us the news. We owe so much to these journalists, be they Egyptian, Canadian or other foreign reporters, and we refuse to let their situation become just another statistic.

****We ask that you change your profile picture to the picture of a nameless gagged man, to show that you will not stand for this injustice.****

JOURNALISM IS NOT TERRORISM.

CJFE Petition: http://bit.ly/MLS82D

CJPME Petition: http://bit.ly/1c4z9GB