On Monday, an Egyptian court convicted three journalists from the Qatar-based Al Jazeera English news network to between seven and 10 years in prison on terrorism-related charges.
CNN reported that the journalists, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been imprisoned since December, were convicted of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, spreading false news and endangering national security.
Australian correspondent Greste and Egyptian-Canadian bureau chief Fahmy were each given seven-year sentences. Egyptian producer Mohamed was also given seven years, plus an additional three for allegedly possessing ammunition.
All three men and the news network have denied the charges.
USA TODAY noted that in a statement the managing director of Al-Jazeera English, Al Anstey, said "not a shred of evidence was found to support the extraordinary and false charges against them.
"To have detained them for 177 days is an outrage. To have sentenced them defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice," he said.
The sentences could possibly be reduced through an appeals process.