Extract from ABC News
Updated
Australian journalist Peter Greste has been deported
from Egypt after 400 days behind bars, and is believed to be on his way
home to Australia.
There was no official word on the fate of his
two Al Jazeera colleagues - Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian
national Baher Mohamed - who were also jailed in the case that provoked
an international outcry.There were reports Greste was in good health when he boarded an initial flight from Egypt to Larnaca in Cyprus overnight, accompanied by one of his brothers.
Greste's family, who will hold a press conference in Brisbane later this morning, confirmed his release from jail in a statement posted on social media.
His brother Andrew Greste said the family was ecstatic and called for the world to respect his brother's privacy and to give him time to appreciate his freedom.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued the order for Greste to be released after he was imprisoned for seven years on charges of defaming Egypt and aiding banned Islamists.
Egypt decided to deport Greste to his home country, a senior interior ministry official told news agency AFP.
"There is a presidential decision to deport Peter Greste to Australia," the official said.
Fahmy was also sentenced to seven years' jail while Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years, amid claims the trial was politically motivated and demands for a presidential pardon.
Al Jazeera senior correspondent Sue Turton was sentenced in absentia to a decade in jail by the same court in Cairo.
She told ABC NewsRadio she was thrilled by the release of Greste, who had been behind bars since December 29, 2013
"Extraordinary, I don't know how I would have coped in that scenario but this man has dug deep and has shown really that when you are put in an awful situation not of your making and you know you're a completely innocent man that you just have to just somehow get through it," she said.
News agency AFP reported Greste and Fahmy were eligible for deportation under a recent law enacted by president al-Sisi allowing the deportation of foreigners to stand trial or serve their sentences in their home countries.
Fahmy was expected to be released from prison and deported to Canada within days, a security official said on Sunday.
Fahmy's fiance Marwa Omara told news agency Reuters she was "hopeful" he would be freed soon.
"His deportation is in its final stages," she said.
There was no immediate word on the fate of Mohamed, whose case could be more complex because he does not possess a foreign passport.
Greste release 'good, but not enough'
Al Jazeera's acting director general Mostefa Souag released a statement that said Greste's release was "good news, but not enough" and added the campaign to free the network's journalists would not end until all three men were released."We're pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited," Mr Souag said.
"It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity.
"Peter's integrity is not just intact, but has been further enhanced by the fortitude and sacrifice he has shown for his profession of informing the public.
"We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom. The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do."
In January, an Egyptian appeals court ordered a retrial of the three men.
After the decision, Greste's parents Lois and Juris Greste said they would push to have their son deported before a second trial.
At the time, Greste's family said the deportation option had been strengthened because the retrial order meant his status changed from being a convicted person to merely being accused.
ABC/wires
No comments:
Post a Comment