AIIA NSW’s ruling council has condemned the imprisonment in Egypt of Peter Greste, the Australian journalist sentenced to seven years’ jail for his coverage of Egyptian politics during elections.

It unanimously passed a resolution – “AIIA NSW condemns the sentence of seven years passed on the Australian journalist Peter Greste by a Cairo court as disgraceful. We call on the AIIA national executive to join us in condemning the Egyptian government and to urge the federal government to review its aid program to Egypt.”

This resolution was sent to Peter Varghese, secretary of DFAT, and to other organisations campaigning for Mr Greste’s release. Last week Justin Brown, first assistant secretary, Consular and Crisis Management Division replied:

“Like you, the Government was very disappointed at the outcome of Mr Greste’s trial and the foreign minister has expressed the Government’s concerns publicly and privately with the Egyptian government. The government’s focus remains on doing all that it can to secure Mr Greste’s early release through sustained advocacy at senior levels of the Egyptian Government. I note that Australia no longer gives aid to Egypt.

The government will continue to provide Mr Greste with all possible support to ensure his health and welfare are appropriately safeguarded.”