WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the Egyptian government on Monday to review all political sentences and verdicts pronounced during the last few years and consider all available remedies, including pardons.

In a statement issued by his office, Secretary Kerry observed that Monday’s conviction and “chilling, draconian sentences” by the Cairo Criminal Court of three Al Jazeera journalists and 15 others was “a deeply disturbing setback to Egypt’s transition”.

“The long-term success of Egypt and its people depends on the protection of universal human rights, and a real commitment to embracing the aspirations of the Egyptians for a responsive government,” he said.

The White House also strongly condemned the verdicts rendered against the three journalists and 15 other defendants.

“The prosecution of journalists for reporting information that does not coincide with the government of Egypt’s narrative flouts the most basic standards of media freedom and represents a blow to democratic progress in Egypt”, the White House said.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2014