Egypt court delays verdict in Al-Jazeera reporters’ retrial

“What can I say?”

“I know that I am innocent, my team is innocent and that me, Baher and Peter and everyone in the office has produced flawless reporting”, Fahmy told Fairfax Media.

Fahmy has accused Al Jazeera of negligence and backing the Brotherhood, suing the network for $100 million (912 000 euros).

Fahmy asked for clarification via his twitter account, later tweeting that the MENA official news agency is saying the verdict will be on August 2nd.

The Doha-based broadcaster has denied the accusations, charging that Egypt is trying to muzzle the media.

“We got married this week and we couldn’t celebrate because we were very anxious”, he said.

Mr Fahmy was Cairo bureau chief at the time of his arrest and spent 411 days in custody. “I want to pick up the pieces and continue with my career”.

“As much as we know we are completely innocent, we also know this trial is politicized and that factors other than evidence are going to be game changers”, he said”.

A verdict has been adjourned for Canadian journalist Mohammed Fhamy who is hoping to finally be awarded freedom.

They were among at least 18 journalists imprisoned in Egypt, along with an estimated 16,000 political prisoners including activists, students, unionists, academics and lawyers, although human rights groups warn that figure could be as high as 40,000.

The trio maintained their innocence throughout, saying they were just doing their jobs, but after a trial which was internationally decried as a sham, they were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi released Greste under a decree issued in November authorising the president to approve the deportation of foreign prisoners. He is now facing charges that attract the death penalty.

Canadian Al-Jazeera English journalist Mohamed Fahmy, speaks with Egyptian policemen during his retrial in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, February 23, 2015. The reporters were sentenced in June 2014 to prison for several years for spreading false news and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

Under the initial version of article 33 of the bill, journalists could have been sentenced to two years in prison if their coverage of terrorist attacks strayed from the official account.

There have been 12 court sessions since.

Greste has already been deported under a law allowing the transfer of foreigners on trial to their home countries but he is still being retried in absentia.