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Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalists Fahmy and Mohamed Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalists Fahmy and Mohamed
(35 minutes 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 said Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, were on a list of 100 prisoners to be released later. A presidential spokesman said Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, were on a list of 100 prisoners to be released.
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.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.
'Long nightmare ends''Long nightmare ends'
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". A statement from President Sisi's office issued on Wednesday said Fahmy and Mohamed were named on a decree pardoning 100 young people "who had received final court sentences, having been convicted on the grounds of violating the anti-protest law and assaulting police forces".
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. "Other prisoners were pardoned due to their health conditions and on humanitarian grounds," it added.
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!" Also named were the prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were jailed in 2014 for taking part in an "illegal protest".
Soon after Fahmy's pardon was first 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.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.""We're just so happy that this is all corrected and the truth has prevailed. He was always innocent."
Al Jazeera said in a report on its website that it "continues to demand all charges and sentences against its journalists are dropped", noting that Greste and six other employees had been convicted in absentia.
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 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. He 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 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". The case against the journalists began in December 2013, when they were arrested at a hotel used by Al Jazeera English to report from Cairo after its bureau was raided by police.
The journalists were initially convicted in June 2014 after a trial that was widely condemned. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison, while Mohamed was given a 10-year sentence after also being found guilty of possessing a spent bullet casing.
In January, Egypt's Court of Cassation ordered a retrial after ruling that the original court had been "hasty in pronouncing its verdict".
Their convictions at retrial on 29 August were described as an "outrage" and an embarrassment for President Sisi by Amal Clooney, one of Fahmy's lawyers.