Geoffrey Robertson urges Tony Abbott to do more, saying 'quiet diplomacy' will not work

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson, QC, has said the Australian government is "not doing enough" to helped the jailed journalist Peter Greste.

Speaking on al-Jazeera on Friday, Robertson called on the prime minister, Tony Abbott, to publicly condemn Egypt's military-led government. "Quiet diplomacy does not work with army generals," he said.

Agreements signed by both countries allowed Australia to report Egypt to the United Nation human rights committee for breaching the right to freedom of expression, Robertson, a former UN appeal judge, said.

"Arresting journalists and threatening them with long jail sentences for reporting facts is a clear breach," he said. "The UN inquiry that must follow would condemn the army, and the threat of sanctions, against tourism for example, would encourage Peter's release.

"Mr Abbott and [the attorney-general] George Brandis talk a lot about the importance of freedom of expression. Here is their opportunity to do something for an Australian who has lost his liberty because of his commitment to that freedom."

Greste, a reporter with al-Jazeera English, was arrested with two of his colleagues in December, accused of helping the banned Muslim Brotherhood by "airing false news" and portraying Egypt as in a state of civil war.

The 48-year-old has spent the past two months in solitary confinement in Cairo's Tora prison. At his first court hearing on Thursday, he was refused bail.

Speaking in Brisbane after his son faced court, Greste's father, Juris Greste, spoke of his anger and dismay at the charges, particularly when he saw footage of the "fortress" surrounding his son, colleagues and the entire court process.

"I found myself on a fine hair-trigger," he said in Brisbane. "I was like a highly fused suicide vest. I was ready to kick walls and punch faces," he said. "I couldn't help but see my son inside there – a perfectly innocent person."

The Grestes said they were enduring an emotional ordeal and Juris Greste said he had endured "the worst 24 hours in my life".

Peter Greste's mother, Lois, read out a consulate report of the court proceedings, which included messages he had yelled out for his family, including "I love them, stay strong", "I'm OK" and "I feel your support".

She said her son had been able to tell other reporters that public support was vital to his case and it was protecting them during their incarceration.

Juris Greste said he was disappointed he had heard little from the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, and Abbott about Peter Greste's case in recent weeks.

The federal government has sought assurances from its Egyptian counterparts that the case will be handled fairly. "The government regrets that Mr Greste's detention period has been extended further and that his bail application was denied by the Egyptian court," a Foreign Department spokesman said.

"We seek assurances from the Egyptian government that Greste's case will be handled fairly and expeditiously and will respect basic standards of justice."

Greste is among 20 defendants accused of belonging to and helping the Muslim Brotherhood and threatening national security.

Of the 20, only eight were present in the courtroom. The rest are at large and will be tried in absentia. The trial was adjourned until 5 March after a 40-minute hearing.