Egypt: IPI condemns sentencing journalist to jail

(MENAFN) On Wednesday, the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, journalists and media executives, vehemently condemned the jailing of an Egyptian freelance journalist and researcher Ismail Alexandrani by a military court.

Alexandrani was found guilty of belonging to a banned group and spreading false news and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Arrested in November 2015, he spent nearly two-and-a-half years in pre-trial detention.
"The sentencing of a journalist by a military court following an unfair trial demonstrates the extent to which the Egyptian government fears free media and critical voices", IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said.

"The treatment of Ismail Alexandrani and other jailed journalists in Egypt makes a mockery of the democratic values that Egypt claims to respect. We urge the international community not to stay silent in the face of clear and repeated violations in Egypt of journalists' right to free expression and a fair trial."

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