Latvian journalist ’devastated’ after seven year prison sentence in Egypt

The Latvian- Australian al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste says he is devastated and outraged by the seven-year jail sentence handed down to him by an Egyptian court.

In a message posted on Facebook by his brothers Mike and Andrew after a prison visit, Greste says he will consider all possible measures to have the conviction overturned, the Associated Press reports.

"Throughout this trial, the prosecutor has consistently failed to present a single piece of concrete evidence to support the outrageous allegations against us," he says in the statement.

"The verdict confirms that our trial was never simply about the charges against us. It has been an attempt to use the court to intimidate and silence critical voices in the media."

Greste, and his al-Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were found guilty on Monday of reporting false news in the wake of the 2013 coup that ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

They were also convicted of supporting Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist organisation after the coup.

Their jailing has sparked worldwide outrage, with US secretary of state John Kerry labelling the verdict "chilling and draconian" and prime minister Tony Abbott saying he was bewildered by the decision.

The Australian government hopes Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will issue a pardon to the Australian journalist, but he has said he won't interfere in judicial matters.

Greste says he and his colleagues are grateful for the "extraordinary and unprecedented public support" they have received.

"It has kept us strong and continues to do so," he said.

"We must all remain committed to fight this gross injustice for as long as necessary."

Elsewhere, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has phoned Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this morning, during which the two sides agreed on coordinated action to assist Latvian- Autralian journalist Peter Greste convicted earlier this week in Egypt.

During the conversation, the two sides expressed disappointment on the Egyptian court ruling and agreed that they must exert more pressure on Cairo.

''Latvia will work on the EU level and within international organizations on this matter, while Australia will work in its region,'' Latvian Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Karlis Eihenbaums told LETA.

''At the same time, the ministers also emphasized an active exchange of information, as well as a possible meeting, which could take place this autumn,'' he added.

A Cairo court on Monday handed down a guilty verdict in the trial of Al Jazeera journalists accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood, sentencing Greste to seven years in prison. Two other Al Jazeera reporters also received seven years.
The trial has triggered international outrage amid fears of growing media restrictions in Egypt.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry expressed dismay in reaction to news about the verdict, with Rinkevics vowing that Latvia - together with the EU and Australia - will continue the fight for Greste's release despite this setback.

Meanwhile, Peter Greste says he is devastated and outraged by the seven-year jail sentence handed down to him by an Egyptian court, the Associated Press reports. 

In a message posted on Facebook by his brothers Mike and Andrew after a prison visit, Greste says he will consider all possible measures to have the conviction overturned.

"Throughout this trial, the prosecutor has consistently failed to present a single piece of concrete evidence to support the outrageous allegations against us," he says in the statement.

"The verdict confirms that our trial was never simply about the charges against us. It has been an attempt to use the court to intimidate and silence critical voices in the media."