Former imprisoned Al Jazeera journalist says Canadian PM betrayed him

Fahmy, formerly bureau chief for Al Jazeera English in Cairo, and two of his colleagues were arrested by Egyptian authorities in 2013.

Fahmy is scheduled to attend a press conference hosted by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression at Ryerson University on Tuesday. “I felt humbled and safe seeing the kind and heartfelt vibes from the police officers and security at the airport who were extremely hospitable and recognised my face despite my attempts to keep my arrival quiet”.

On August 29, all three men were sentenced to three years in prison for airing what the court described as “false news” and biased coverage. It was mind-boggling that the cab driver, passengers on the flight and strangers recognized me in the airport and knew the details of my story.

Now, Fahmy wants to start a conversation about how the government will deal with any future cases like his. The case was widely condemned, and Fahmy and his Egyptian co-defendant received a presidential pardon last month. The trial was criticized by human rights groups as deeply flawed.

“I like how he’s been so outspoken about how he felt betrayed by the Canadian government”, she said after hearing him speak. Greste was deported from Egypt last February, while Fahmy and Mohamed were granted bail pending the second verdict.

Fahmy said he had a beer with Trudeau on Monday night and the two discussed issues surrounding freedom of the press.

Fahmy said if that happened, he was “thankful” but he said Harper should have been “more transparent” about making such a call.

A senior government official said Harper spoke to Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, earlier this year and sent several letters on Fahmy’s behalf, including a letter about four or five weeks ago.

“In my cell, I refused to recognize at first that Mr. Harper was not putting his full clout behind me”, Mr. Fahmy said. He said he would be glad to meet with Conservative Party officials, but thought it unlikely that they would ask.

“Analysts have pointed to the fact that he was not in Egypt during the time of the President Sisi’s decision as the reason for being left out of the extensive list of pardons: “[A pardon] would mean all the difference in the world.

He also plans to take up a position as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of journalism in Vancouver, and is writing a book about his experiences.

During the news conference, Fahmy thanked those who had supported him throughout his ordeal, saying that both Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair provided great support to him and his family while he was incarcerated in Egypt.

– With files from The Associated Press.