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Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalists Fahmy and Mohamed Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalists Fahmy and Mohamed
(about 1 hour later)
Egypt's president has pardoned two of the three Al Jazeera TV journalists convicted of broadcasting false news.Egypt's president has pardoned two of the three Al Jazeera TV journalists convicted of broadcasting false news.
A presidential spokesman told AFP news agency that Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, were on a list of 100 prisoners to be released. A presidential spokesman said Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, were on a list of 100 prisoners to be released later.
Mohamed did not appear to be on the list when it was first published on Wednesday, nor did the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February. State media said a third person from the case was also pardoned. It is not clear if this is the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February.
They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial.They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial.
Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.
The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. Legal experts said the charges were unfounded and politically motivated.The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. Legal experts said the charges were unfounded and politically motivated.
Pardoned alongside Fahmy and Mohamed were the prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were sentenced to two years in prison in October 2014 for breaking an anti-protest law that gives the Egyptian authorities broad powers to ban or disperse most public demonstrations. 'Long nightmare ends'
No reason was given for President Sisi's decision on Wednesday, but it comes ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and a day before he travels to New York to address the UN General Assembly. Fahmy and Mohamed were named on a presidential decree pardoning "100 young people trapped in issues related to the breach of the law on demonstrations and some humanitarian and health cases".
Mr Sisi had also said he would be willing to pardon the Al Jazeera journalists once the judicial process had ended. Also included were the civil rights campaigners Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were sentenced to two years in prison in 2014 for taking part in an "illegal protest" demanding the release of detainees and repeal of the law on demonstrations.
Soon after Fahmy's pardon was reported, a tweet from his account said: "Thank you to all the supporters sending us the news, we have heard and are very happy. AJ Staff is Free!"
His brother, Adel, told the BBC by telephone from Kuwait: "It's such a relief to have this long nightmare end.
"We're just so happy that this is all corrected and the truth has prevailed. He was always innocent."
The pardons were issued by Mr Sisi ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and a day before he travels to New York to address the UN General Assembly.
The president had said he would be willing to pardon the Al Jazeera journalists once the judicial process had ended.
Hopes for their release had also been boosted by improved relations between Egypt and Qatar, which owns Al Jazeera.
Fahmy, who renounced his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation in February, is expected to leave for Canada once he is released.Fahmy, who renounced his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation in February, is expected to leave for Canada once he is released.
The first trial of the journalists, at which they were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison, was widely condemned and Egypt's Court of Cassation ordered a retrial after ruling in January that the original court had been "hasty in pronouncing its verdict". The journalists' first trial, at which they were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison, was widely condemned and Egypt's Court of Cassation ordered a retrial after ruling that the original court had been "hasty in pronouncing its verdict".