The three were detained in December 2013 when Egyptian authorities arrested them for being part of a terrorist group. Egypt claims that Al-Jazeera, owned by Qatar is a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood. The three journalists have stated that they were doing their jobs and are not terrorists.
One of the issues with the charges is that Egypt did not formally list the Muslim Brotherhood as a terror group until four months after the journalists were arrested. Additional charges facing the three of falsifying news reports to bring unrest in Egypt had lead to sentences of 10 years for Mohammed and seven years for Fahmy and Greste. The three additional years for Mohammed was for having a spent bullet in his possession that he claims was obtained at a protest site.
The journalists were not in the courtroom when their convictions were overturned and a retrial was ordered. Family members and embassy officials from Canada and Australia were allowed into the courtroom to hear the proceedings. Reporters were present only after the hearing had finished.
The Toronto Star quoted Troy Lulashnyk, the Canadian ambassador to Egypt, “We have serious concerns related to the conduct of the original trial and we hope that this new procedure will be conducted quickly and transparently and fairly. The Canadian government at the most senior levels has intervened continually in the case, including Foreign Minister [John] Baird, and we will continue to do so.” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is expected to arrive in Egypt in January in Fahmy’s behalf.
Al Jazeera released a statement through a spokesman after the conviction was overturned:
“Baher, Peter and Mohammed have been unjustly in jail for over a year now. The Egyptian authorities have a simple choice – free these men quickly, or continue to string this out, all the while continuing this injustice and harming the image of their own country in the eyes of the world. They should choose the former.”
Fahmy is in medical distress according to his fiance Marwa Omara, who also alleges that he is being tortured in jail according to CTV News. Omara said that Fahmy has hepatitis C and shoulder pain.
Family members were upset that the men were not released with bail but believe the new trial is a positive step.
