Al Jazeera welcomes release of journalists

In a statement by the presidency, Sisi said “this Bairam provides a sublime value of sacrifice that all of us should cherish while serving our nation to realize security and stability for a better future for our kids”. “I want to show Marwa Canada from my eyes, to just normalize my life again”, Mr. Fahmy said. “Egypt can begin tackling its shameful record of press freedom by releasing all journalists imprisoned for their work in the country”.

Fahmy’s lawyer said she was delighted that the journalist was finally free. He is in talks to take on the fellowship in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia, which he had placed on hold when he was sent back to prison.

Returning to prison was difficult, Fahmy admitted, but not quite as hard as the initial shock of being sentenced to seven years during his first trial.

Fahmy’s long-running legal saga has drawn attention from around the world ever since he and two colleagues were arrested in December 2013 while working for satellite news broadcaster Al Jazeera English.

He is also writing a book about his experiences and is eager to share what he has learned from his ordeal.

The journalists were released as part of a presidential pardon on Wednesday ahead of the Islamic holiday of Eid-al-Ahda. An appeal brought about a second trial, although one of them, Australian Peter Greste, was suddenly released under a law which allows for the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of crimes. Former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser carried out similar measures in the 1960s with the programme of “pioneering organisation” to produce youth leadership followers of his regime. “All those jailed for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association or because of their journalistic or human rights work must have their convictions quashed and be immediately and unconditionally released”, said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty global.

Following the verdict, Ottawa had formally asked Egypt’s president to pardon Fahmy or allow his deportation to Canada. Police took the two men – along with Shadi Ibrahim, a student sentenced in the case and also pardoned – and dropped them in their prison suits on a street outside Mr. Fahmy’s old school.