Sisi acknowledges negative impact of Jazeera verdicts

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi admitted the negative impact the verdicts handed down to Al Jazeera journalists had on Egypt’s image, saying that he wishes they had been deported instead of being tried.

In unexpected comments to chief editors of several newspapers in a meeting Sunday, Sisi said that “some think we interfere in the judiciary. The verdicts against some journalists had very negative effects but we have nothing to do with it.”

Sisi said he would have rather seen them deported immediately following their arrest rather than put on trial. 

Late last month, three Al Jazeera English journalists received verdicts of seven to 10 years in jail on charges of “aiding a terrorist organization,” by spreading false news.

The case has raised questions regarding media freedoms and judicial processes in Egypt and the verdicts spurred international criticism through remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abott, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

The verdicts also faced mounting criticism from international and local rights groups.

Sisi’s comments are more lenient than remarks he made a day following the verdict, affirming that the judiciary of Egypt is independent, and that its rulings should be respected and not interfered with.

"We won't interfere in the rulings of the judiciary because Egypt's judiciary is independent and the state institutions shouldn't be talked about by anyone. The judiciary's rulings shouldn't be commented on, even if people don't understand it," Sisi said at the time.