Egypt could free jailed journalist Fahmy within hours: Al Jazeera
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 3 February 2015
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Egyptian authorities could free Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy within hours. His release follows the earlier liberation of his colleague Peter Greste.Summary
DOHA: Egypt could free Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy within hours, Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera English reported on Tuesday.
Fahmy's colleague, Peter Greste, an Australian citizen, was released on Sunday. A third journalist, Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian national, is still in prison in Cairo.
The thee men were sentenced last June to between seven and 10 years on charges including spreading lies to help "a terrorist organisation" - a reference to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Al Jazeera said that Fahmy had renounced his Egyptian citizenship, in a move that paves the way for him to be deported under a presidential decree.
On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Fahmy's release was "imminent". Baird did not elaborate, however, as to whether he meant hours or days.
A security source said on Sunday that Fahmy was expected to be released and deported to Canada within days.
Egyptian authorities accuse Qatar-based Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Qatari-backed movement which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled in 2013 when he was Egypt's army chief. - Reuters
Key Points
- Mohamed Fahmy may be released soon from an Egyptian prison.
- Peter Greste was released on Sunday, while Baher Mohamed remains incarcerated.
- Fahmy renounced his Egyptian citizenship, facilitating potential deportation.
- Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird indicated that Fahmy's release is imminent.
- Al Jazeera is accused by Egypt of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
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