Egypt frees al-Jazeera journalists on bail

Reporters released on bail after over 400 days in jail

Two al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt on charges of aiding a "terrorist organisation" were freed on bail on 12 February after serving more than 400 days behind bars in Cairo's notorious Tora prison.

The case is still pending against Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohamed, and their next court hearing has been scheduled for 23 February.

Fahmy, a naturalised Canadian who gave up his Egyptian citizenship, was released on bail of $32,000 while Mohamed was released without bail. Their convictions for spreading false news to help a terrorist group, namely the Muslim Brotherhood, were overturned on appeal in January.

Their release on bail comes ten days after their Australian colleague Peter Greste was freed "unconditionally" under a law allowing the deportation of foreign nationals to their home countries.

The three journalists were working for al-Jazeera English at the time of their arrest in December 2013 and all have consistently denied the charges against them.

The three were among 20 reporters held on terror-related charges in a high-profile case that received international condemnation. Greste and Fahmy were both sentenced to seven years while Mohamed received a ten-year jail term.

Egyptian authorities accuse al-Jazeera of being a mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Qatar-backed movement which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi set about eliminating in 2013 when he was Egypt’s army chief.

SHARE
Wanted in Africa
Wanted in Africa
Wanted in Africa, part of the Wanted Worldwide network, is a website in English for expatriates in Africa established in 2006. We cover Europe's news stories that may be of interest to English speaking residents along with tourists as well. Our publication also offers classifieds, photos, information on events, museums, churches, galleries, exhibits, fashion, food, and local travel.
79821
Previous article UK resumes issuance of visas in Dar es Salaam
Next article Mandela tapestry for Cape Town airport