NYT slams Egypt on Aljazeera staff with blank page


The U.S. based daily New York Times left its back page blank on Sunday protesting the trail of Aljazeera journalists in Egypt who are detained since last December and were sentenced to 7 years Jail on Monday."This is what happens when you silence journalists" The Daily Newspaper signed its blank page with the hash-tag of #FreeAJStaff.Australian Peter Greste, Al Jazeera's Kenya-based correspondent, Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy, bureau chief of Al Jazeera English, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian producer, were facing charges of aiding a "terrorist organization".The journalists are accused of publishing lies that harmed the national interest and supplying money, equipment and information to 16 Egyptians. The foreigners were also accused of using unlicensed broadcasting and communications equipment.Western governments have voiced concern over freedom of expression and press freedom in Egypt since Mursi's ouster and the crackdown has raised questions about Egypt's democratic credentials three years after an uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power and raised hopes of greater freedoms.