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BBC journalists hold minute’s silence for Peter Greste – detained in Egypt for 100 days

By Press Gazette

BBC journalists in London have demonstrated outside Broadcasting House and held a minute's silence in support of the Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste who has been imprisoned in Egypt without trial for 100 days.

Greste, a former BBC correspondent, was arrested with colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed on 29 December and they have been detained since then.

Their trial in a Cairo court has been adjourned on numerous occasions. The trio face charges of spreading false news and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood – which they all deny. If found guilty, Greste could face seven years in prison.

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition started by Greste's parents, and the global campaign movement Avaaz, which was handed to the Egyptian government earlier this year.

Governments and institutions including Australia, the US, the EU and the UN have called for their release and for press freedom in Egypt to be upheld.

They are due to appear in court again on Thursday.

Peter Horrocks, director of the BBC's World Service Group, said: "Journalism is not a crime. It is essential for a free and open society. The news organisations here today are making a stand against the governments which supress free speech and inflict violence and intimidation against journalists."

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