Greste slams British Sisi talk as legal team dubs trial 'a sham'

Peter Greste says it would be "completely inappropriate" for the British government to host talks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later this year after a court sentenced three Al Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison.

It was announced in June that the UK would host bilateral discussions with Sisi, the former head of Egypt's armed forces who led the coup overthrowing Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

But Australian journalist Greste, who was deported from Egypt in February, told Channel 4 News on Saturday that the planned visit "doesn't seem compatible with putting him under pressure".

• Greste vows to fight Egypt sentence

Greste added: "It seems completely inappropriate in the light of this conviction."

"The whole world has been watching this case very very closely to see Egypt's commitment to freedom of the press, rule of law, due process.

"What we are seeing today in these convictions is a gross injustice and a violation of all of those very fundamental principles.

"For President Sisi to be sitting alongside the prime minister of Britain is going to send out a very negative message.

"What we need to do is make it very clear that President Sisi now has an opportunity to right an injustice, and send a message back to the world that Egypt does pay more than just lip service to those principles."

Mr Greste slammed the verdict shortly after it was announced on Saturday evening, saying he, Canadian national Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed had done nothing wrong and were convicted purely because of politics.

The three men were charged with airing falsified footage intended to damage national security and with being part of ousted president Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which is considered a terrorist organisation, after the up-market hotel suite being used by Al Jazeera to report from Egypt was raided in 2013.

Since Morsi's ouster, Egypt has cracked down heavily on his supporters and the journalists were accused of being mouthpieces for the Brotherhood.

Greste's legal team say trial was 'a sham'

Greste's legal team are more determined than ever to ensure he clears his name.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was dismayed and that the verdict was distressing for Mr Greste and his supporters.

"I have spoken with Mr Greste today and reaffirmed that I will continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues with my Egyptian counterpart to clear his name," she said in a statement.

The journalist's lawyer, Chris Flynn, and barrister, Christopher Ward, issued a statement saying they remained committed to securing justice for Mr Greste.

"The verdict is plainly political, it is unjust and it offends the rule of law," Mr Flynn said.

"The verdict is completely inconsistent with the findings of the Egyptian court's own technical committee, which reviewed the evidence.

"As a process, the re-trial was a sham and was miscarried at every step."

Mr Flynn said Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi now had the opportunity to correct the injustice "and we look forward to him doing so swiftly".

Greens foreign affairs spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam said Mr Greste hadn't committed any crime.

"Not only has Peter been locked up for doing his job, he has expressed concern that a criminal record resulting from today's conviction may make it difficult for him to continue his career as a foreign correspondent," Senator Ludlam said.

Labor also condemned the verdict, with opposition leader Bill Shorten and opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek releasing a joint statement saying journalists shouldn't be jailed for doing their job.

"An injustice like this touches all of us that enjoy the freedom to say this is not right."

Amnesty International said the outcome was "farcical".

"The charges ... were always baseless and politicised, and they should never have been arrested and tried in the first place," Amnesty's North Africa and Middle East director Philip Luther said.

"Today's verdict must be overturned immediately."