Al Jazeera journalists freed from Egypt prison

An Egyptian court in August sentenced three Al Jazeera TV journalists to three years in prison for operating without a press license and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt, a case that stirred an global outcry.

Fahmy’s lawyer, Khaled Abu Bakr, confirmed the pardon and said his client is a “professional and innocent journalist”.

The three men were originally sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison on charges that included spreading lies to help a terrorist organisation, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the military toppled from power two years ago.

“The reported pardons came a day before Sisi plans to head to New York for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly”, Reuters reports.

On Tuesday, Greste attended the dedication of a war correspondents memorial at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke to him and vowed to press Egypt for a pardon for him and his colleagues.

It was not clear whether Peter Greste, who was also sentenced in the case, was among those pardoned.

Also among the released were 16 women, including Yara Sallam, the news agency said.

– with files from the Associated Press.

Al-Jazeera did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP. Egyptian presidents usually pardon convicts for health or other reasons ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar.

“I’m feeling ecstatic knowing that I don’t have to worry about lawyers, police officers following me all over the place and knowing that I’m going to share my apartment tonight with my beloved wife”, said Fahmy.

Egyptian security forces arrested dozens of activists past year for violating the 2013 protest ban. Qatar is a strong backer of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Fahmy was sentenced to three years in prison last month for airing what a court described as “false news” and biased coverage.

“Canada is pleased that Egyptian President el-Sisi has granted Mr. Fahmy a pardon”, said a spokeswoman with the department of foreign affairs. Sallam was arrested past year along with other activists accused of violating the protest law.