Kerry called Egypt's foreign minister today concerning today's sentences
There are many absolutely misleading threads out today that attack Obama and Kerry because of Kerry's visit to Egypt yesterday. The sentences came AFTER he was out of Egypt. Obama and Kerry have both attacked them. There is a thread with the WH statement - here is Kerry's response. Those posting threads calling for shame on these two men, should be ashamed of themselves. They are working hard to stop very bad things from happening.
Here is Kerry's comment on the sentences:
SECRETARY KERRY: Well Andrea, thats very, very fair question, and its an appropriate one today. When I heard about that verdict today, I was so concerned about it and, frankly, disappointed in it that I immediately picked up the telephone and I talked to the foreign minister of Egypt and I registered our serious displeasure at this kind of verdict under the circumstances of where we find ourselves today. Now, todays conviction is obviously its a chilling and draconian sentence. And its deeply disturbing to see in the midst of Egypts transition. It simply cannot stand if Egypt is going to be able to move forward in the way that Egypt needs to move forward, in order to respond to the extraordinary aspirations of those young people who twice came in to Tahrir Square in order to demand a responsive government.
So the success of Egypt going forward will depend on the protection of universal human rights, and it will depend on a real commitment to embracing the hopes of the people there that theyre going to see a judicial system that is responsive and modern and not one trapped in ideology or in this kind of extreme decision.
So todays verdict flies in the face of the essential ingredients of a civil society and a free press and rule of law. And the president President al-Sisi and I discussed this yesterday. We discussed these very cases, and I think it is going to be critical in terms of the objectives of his presidency for him to move quickly to try to address the international concerns that exist with respect to this kind of a decision.
From the press availability today -
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/06/228327.htm