Egypt explains why it jailed Al-Jazeera staff

An Egyptian court has released the detailed ruling on why it sentenced three Al-Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison for airing what it described as “false news,” a case long criticized by press freedom advocates and others.

The ruling, published by the state news agency MENA on Sunday, says the three men — Canadian national Mohammed Fahmy, Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed — essentially were serving the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, which authorities consider a terrorist organization.

Al-Jazeera news channel’s Australian journalist Peter Greste (L) and his colleagues, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy (C) and Egyptian Baher Mohamed , listen to the verdict inside the defendants cage during their trial for allegedly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood on June 23, 2014 at the police institute near Cairo’s Tora prison. (photo credit: AFP Photo/Khaled Desouki)

The ruling also says the three were biased in their reporting, operated without press credentials and secretly worked in at a hotel in central Cairo without a permit.

Mohammed and Fahmy are now imprisoned, while Greste previously was deported. The journalists and the network deny the accusations.

— AP