Al Jazeera appeals for release of Cairo news team, detained 1 year

CAIRO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- As of Monday, three Al Jazeera journalists have been detained for a year by Egyptian authorities, charged with tailoring their news reports to support the Muslim Brotherhood.

Australian correspondent Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were detained on Dec. 29, 2013, accused of using Al Jazeera English as a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood -- considered a terrorist group by the government -- and their broadcast location at the Marriott hotel as a meeting venue for Muslim Brotherhood members.

Greste and Fahmy were sentenced in June to seven years in prison and Mohamed to 10 years following a trial that was dismissed by many in the international community as lacking due process.

Al Jazeera staff marked the one year anniversary of their colleagues' detention by asking social media users to re-tweet a message of solidarity with the hash-tag, #FreeAJStaff.

Egypt's Court of Cassation will hear an appeal on Thursday to examine whether due process was followed. The court has the power to dismiss the case, uphold the verdict and sentences, or order a new trial.

Greste's father, Juris, told the BBC he was optimistic about a positive outcome during the appeal process. "We believe that the only decision that the Court of Cassation can make is to overturn the original verdict. Therein will be Egypt's opportunity to demonstrate the integrity and independence of its appeals system."