After 400 days in an Egyptian prison, journalist Peter Greste has been freed, and is on his way home to Australia.
Last year, Greste and two colleagues appeared before the court on charges of making false news reports that defamed Egypt’s reputation, and aiding a terrorist organisation.
Amongst the bizarre evidence used in the trial, prosecutors played Gotye’s song ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, and showed holiday pictures of Greste’s parents in Europe.
Per Farfax, Greste’s brother Andrew made a brief statement today, saying: “We’re ecstatic that Peter has been released and we now ask if the world could respect his privacy, to give him time to appreciate his freedom before he faces the media.”
Greste is presently on a plane to Cyprus, and will then fly on to Australia. His colleague Mohamed Fahmy will also be released and deported to Canada in the coming days. There is no word on the fate of third man Baher Mohamed.
Supporters of the trio campaigned tirelessly for their release during their time in prison, under the slogan ‘Journalism Is Not Terrorism.’ They are believed to represent just a fraction of Egypt’s tens of thousands of political prisoners.
Photo: Simon Maina via Getty Images
