Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says he will not intervene in the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists to between seven and 10 years in prison, even as international outcry spreads. Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were convicted on Monday of terrorism charges including “spreading false news” in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, deemed by the government a “terrorist group.” Peter Greste’s father, Juris Greste, reacted to the sentencing.

Juris Greste: “This is a very dark time, not only for our family, but for journalism generally. We are devastated, shocked and dismayed at this finding. We are not usually a family of superlatives, but I have to say this morning my vocabulary fails to convey just how shattered we are.”

The sentencing came one day after Secretary of State John Kerry met with el-Sisi and outlined plans for a full resumption of military ties in the coming months. On Monday, Kerry released a statement calling the verdict “draconian” and urging Egypt to “consider all available remedies, including pardons.” But the statement did not mention U.S. military aid, including $575 million released in recent days and plans to send a long-delayed shipment of Apache helicopters. Australia has protested the sentencing of Peter Greste —- an Australian citizen –— by summoning a top Egyptian diplomat.