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Egypt frees Australian, one of three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists Egypt frees Australian, one of three jailed Al Jazeera journalists
(about 4 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Egypt freed and deported Sunday one of the Al-Jazeera journalists who had been jailed for over a year in a case that drew international condemnation and sparked a worldwide campaign for their release. BAGHDAD — Egypt freed and deported Sunday one of the Al Jazeera journalists who had been jailed for over a year in a case that drew international condemnation and sparked a worldwide campaign for their release.
Australian Peter Greste immediately boarded a plane for Cyprus and is in good health, according to a report posted online by his employer, the English language branch of the Al-Jazeera network. Australian Peter Greste immediately boarded a plane for Cyprus and is in good health, according to a report posted online by his employer, the English language branch of the Al Jazeera network.
The Qatar-based news organization also appealed for the release of the two other Al-Jazeera journalists who are still in prison, Baher Mohammed, a producer and the channel’s Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy. The Qatar-based news organization also appealed for the release of the two other Al Jazeera journalists who are still in prison, Baher Mohammed, a producer, and the channel’s Cairo bureau chief, Mohamed Fahmy.
“We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom,” said the network’s acting director general, Mostefa Souag, in a statement. “The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do.” “We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom,” the network’s acting director general, Mostefa Souag, said in a statement. “The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do.”
A statement by Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the cabinet had approved the decision to “extradite” Greste, citing a presidential decree last year permitting the deportation of foreigners convicted of crimes. The statement did not mention Fahmy, who has dual Egyptian-Canadian nationality, or Mohammed, who is Egyptian. A statement by Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the cabinet had approved the decision to “extradite” Greste, citing a presidential decree last year permitting the deportation of foreigners convicted of crimes. The statement did not mention Fahmy, an Egyptian-Canadian national, or Mohammed, who is Egyptian.
Reuters however quoted an Egyptian security official as saying it was likely Fahmy would be freed and deported to Canada in the coming days. Reuters, however, quoted an Egyptian security official as saying it was likely that Fahmy would be freed and deported to Canada in the coming days.
The fate of the three Al Jazeera journalists had come to symbolize the severity of the crackdown implemented by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in the wake of the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood government in 2013. Thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been rounded up, hundreds have been shot dead and hundreds more have been sentenced to death since the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi in June 2013. The fate of the three Al Jazeera journalists had come to symbolize the severity of the crackdown implemented by President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi in the wake of the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood government in 2013. Thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been rounded up, hundreds have been fatally shot and hundreds more have been sentenced to death since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Many of the liberal activists who led the Arab Spring revolution in 2011 have also been jailed and press freedoms have been sharply curtailed. Many of the liberal activists who led the Arab Spring revolution in 2011 have been jailed, and media freedoms have been sharply curtailed.
Greste was detained along with Fahmy in December 2013 in their suite at the Marriott Hotel. Mohammed was detained shortly after at his home. All three were charged with colluding with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Greste was arrested along with Fahmy in December 2013 in their suite at the Marriott hotel. Mohammed was arrested shortly afterward at his home. All three were charged with colluding with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Despite little in the way of evidence, they were convicted by a court last year and sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison.Despite little in the way of evidence, they were convicted by a court last year and sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison.
Though the reasons for their arrest were never made clear, Egypt’s government has long regarded Al-Jazeera as a voice of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has in the past been backed by the Qatari government. The network’s operations in Egypt have been shut down and seven other journalists and employees have been sentenced to death in absentia. Though the reasons for their arrest were never made clear, Egypt’s government has long regarded Al Jazeera as a voice of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has in the past been backed by the Qatari government. The network’s operations in Egypt have been shut down, and seven other journalists and employees have been sentenced to death in absentia.
Journalists around the world joined in appeals for the release of the three, staging demonstrations on numerous occasions to draw attention to their plight. Western governments also condemned the detentions and appealed to Egypt to release them.Journalists around the world joined in appeals for the release of the three, staging demonstrations on numerous occasions to draw attention to their plight. Western governments also condemned the detentions and appealed to Egypt to release them.