The Journalists Syndicate held on Sunday an urgent meeting to mull the trade union and legal measures that should be taken after issuance of the suspended one-year sentence against former Syndicate Chief Yehia Qallash; syndicate secretary Gamal abdel Rehim; and former Head of the Freedoms Committee at the syndicate Khaled el-Balshy. The council declared its support for the three figures with respect to the judicial verdicts. Meanwhile, it expressed concerns over the court handing them this sentence, urging the judiciary to maintains the spirit of the law in regards to journalism cases. Qasr al-Nil Misdemeanor Appellant Court on Saturday sentenced journalist unionists to lenient punishments, overruling earlier harsh verdict against them for harboring colleagues wanted by the law and spreading false news. Saturday's ruling eased the sentences to one year of prison for each, and granted a stay of execution by the court.

Source: Egypt Independent March 26, 2017 12:45 UTC