Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUN / EGYPT SENTENCES
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: UN / EGYPT JOURNALISTS
TRT: 1.40
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 23 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
RECENT
1. Wide shot, exterior of the UN
23 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English), Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by recent court decisions in Egypt, particularly the confirmation of death sentences for 183 people and the sentencing of journalists, including from Al Jazeera today, to lengthy jail terms. Proceedings that clearly appear not to meet basic fair trial standards, particularly those resulting in the imposition of the death penalty, are likely to undermine prospects for long-term stability.”
4. Cutaway, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English), Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
“Separately, the Secretary-General notes that the constitutionality of the law regulating protest will be reviewed by the Supreme Constitutional Court. He recalls that both he and the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concerns that the law could lead to serious breaches of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and needed to be brought in conformity with Egypt’s international human rights obligations. The Secretary-General stresses that participation in peaceful protests or criticism of the Government should not be grounds for detention or prosecution. He believes Egypt will only be strengthened by empowering all its citizens to fully exercise their rights.”
6. Cutaway, journalists
7. Earlier today, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay added that she too was shocked and alarmed by the verdicts and heavy jail sentences 7 to 10 years handed down to three Al Jazeera journalists on Monday as well as 11 other defendants who were trialled in abstentia.
8. Cutaway, journalists
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed "shock" and “deep concern” over recent court decisions in Egypt, including confirmation of 183 death sentences as well as heavy jail sentences of three Al Jazeera journalists and 11 other defendants who were tried in absentia.
In the statement read by the Secretary-General’s Spokesperson today (23 Jun) in New York it was said that the constitutionality of the law regulating protest will be reviewed by the Supreme Constitutional Court.
Both Ban and Pillay had expressed concern that the law could lead to “serious breaches of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly” and need to conform with Egypt’s international human rights obligations.
The Secretary-General stressed that “participation in peaceful protests or criticism of the Government should not be grounds for detention or prosecution.”
