A court in Myanmar rejected the appeals of two Reuters journalists who have been sentenced to a harsh seven-year jail term for violating a state secrets act.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted in September in a troubling case that sparked concerns among human rights groups and raised questions about Myanmar’s commitment to democracy.

“The decision on Wa Lone & Kyaw Soe Oo’s appeal Friday will show whether Myanmar is truly committed to rule of law & freedom of expression,” the Asia Desk of the Committee to Protect Journalists wrote on Twitter before the decision was issued.

“The 2 journalists were jailed for their reporting & exposing a massacre.”

The reporters were covering the country’s ongoing campaign of violence and persecution of the Rohingya people in the country’s Rakhine state.

With wires