An Egyptian court sentenced three al-Jazeera TV journalists to three years in prison for operating without a press license and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt. The verdict in a retrial was issued against Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian, Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, and Peter Greste, an Australian who was deported in February. Rights advocates say their arrest was part of a crackdown on free speech waged since the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood figure, in July 2013 following mass unrest over his rule. The three defendants denied all charges, calling them absurd. An appeal will be launched in an attempt to reverse the sentence.