Just a few weeks after Australian journalist Peter Greste‘s arrival home in Brisbane after being freed from an Egyptian jail, Greste’s similarly-charged colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have also been released.
The excellent news was received overnight, with Baher Mohamed taking to twitter to announce his freedom. Doesn’t get better than this:
I AM FREE
— Baher Ghorab (@Bahrooz) February 12, 2015
Fahmy, who held dual Canadian-Egyptian citizenship, forfeited the latter and was released on bail of approximately $42,000, according to SMH. Mohamed, an Egyptian citizen, was released without bail. A hearing into the pair’s case is due for February 23.
In 2014, the Al Jazeera journalists Greste Mohamed and Fahmy were put on trial after being accused for filing news reports that were
“damaging for national security.” In June last year, Greste and his
colleague Fahmy each received seven years in prison; Mohamed received
ten years.
It’s a great day for justice. Congratulations, Mohamed and Baher!
CONGRATULATIONS TO @Bahrooz & @MFFahmy11 This is a huge step forward. Not time to declare it over, but at least you get to go home!
— Peter Greste (@PeterGreste) February 12, 2015
via SMH.
Lead image by Robert Shakespeare via Getty.
