The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has condemned the jailing of three journalists in Egypt this week. The Al-Jazeera reporters, including former BBC correspondent Peter Greste, were sentenced to between seven and ten years on charges of “aiding terrorists and endangering national security.”

ICTU general secretary David Begg said the move was a clear attack on freedom of expression. “The ICTU executive council has unanimously backed calls for the release of the journalists and for the verdicts to be overturned,” he said. The National Union of Journalists held a protest at the Egyptian embassy in Dublin this week.

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders has reported that five journalists have been killed and at least 125 jailed by Egypt’s military regime since last July. Many more face harassment.

Sign the petition.