Appeal filed over jailed Al Jazeera staff

Lawyers for three Al Jazeera English staff jailed in Egypt have filed appeals against their convictions.

The case will now be heard before the Court of Cassation, which will examine the grounds for a full hearing, for which a date has not been set.

Thursday’s announcement by the lawyers for Peter Greste, Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy comes just days after leading human rights lawyer, Amal Alamuddin, demanded the release of the trio, saying the case was an example of how to set up a “kangaroo court”.

Egyptian authorities arrested the men in December last year, accusing them of spreading false news, endagering national security and supporting a banned organisation, the Muslim Brotherhood.

They were found guilty of those charges on June 24.

Lawyers for the men accuse Egyptian authorities of several breaches of process in the case, arguing that there were flaws in the arrest procedure, and that the evidence presented did not prove the charges made.

Legal teams for the journalists have also noted that the judge presiding over the trial made mention of their lack of accreditation when giving the verdict, which is not a criminal offence.

“The appeal will lay bare the flaws in the case against Peter, Baher and Mohammed,” Al Anstey, Al Jazeera’s managing director, said.

“These are three outstanding journalists who were just doing their jobs.

“We look forward to them being exonerated in due course. We will not stop in this quest till they are reunited with their families.”

Al Jazeera has dismissed the allegations and has called for the immediate release of its staff.