President Al-Sissi Says He Will Not Interfere In Court Rulings Against Al Jazeera Reporters

Egyptian President Fattah al-Sissi has insisted on Tuesday, against the pleas by various Countries, that he would not interfere in court rulings against a group of Al Jazeera reporters jailed on terrorism charges.
He said in Cairo at a military graduation ceremony, that it was not possible for him to interfere because the Egypt judiciary system was very independent and there must be respect for court rulings.
Meanwhile, James Harding, BBC News Directorm said hundreds of BBC and Al Jazeera journalists across the world held a minute of silence on Tuesday at 0841 GMT, exactly 24 hours after the men were sentenced.
He said in London and Doha that BBC and Al Jazeera journalists, some with black tape over their mouth, stood outside their respective offices as they held signs reading “Journalism is not a crime.”
Harding said the real issues at stake are on principle about the intimidation of journalists and preventing them from telling their stories.
“The BBC very rarely does something like this. We do it because there’s a point of principle at stake here,”he said.
Harding said the BBC and other British news organisations, including Sky and ITN, were also sending a letter to al-Sissi in protest about the sentences.