Updated

A group of Nairobi-based journalists has been ejected from a reception at the United Nations complex in Kenya's capital after launching a protest over Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt.

Egyptian Foreign minister Sameh Shoukry was attending a reception there Tuesday.

About a dozen journalists were removed from the reception by U.N. security after waving placards written "#FREEAJSTAFF," with their mouths covered by black masking tape — symbolizing the muzzling of the press.

Three Al-Jazeera English journalists — Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy, Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohammed — have been held for more than a year in Egypt on terror-related charges. The case has sparked widespread condemnation from international rights groups and other media outlets, who say the journalists have been unjustly jailed for doing their job.