Remaining Al-Jazeera Journalists Detained in Egypt Are Released
"I AM FREE," reads a tweet by Baher Mohamed, one of three colleagues who had been imprisoned under accusations of falsifying news. The court has scheduled further proceedings for Feb. 23.
From left, journalists Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed in a cage during their trial in Cairo. (AP/Hamada Elrasam)
“I AM FREE,” reads a tweet by Baher Mohamed, one of three Al-Jazeera journalists who had been imprisoned in Egypt under accusations of falsifying news.
Although Peter Greste was released last week, his colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy were awaiting the verdict in their retrial in Cairo. On Thursday morning, the Egyptian judge presiding over their case “adjourned proceedings until 23 February and ordered that the two men be released,” according to the BBC.
BBC News:
Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed appeared in a soundproof glass cage – which allows judges to limit defendants’ ability to protest or interrupt proceedings – at the start of their retrial at the Cairo Criminal Court on Thursday morning… [Judge Hassan Farid] set bail for Mr Fahmy at 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($33,000; £22,000), while Mr Mohamed was freed without bail.
The courtroom erupted in applause when the judge read his decision…Mr Fahmy has given up his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation to Canada, but Mr Mohamed has no foreign passport.
The journalists strenuously deny collaborating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013. They say they were jailed simply for reporting the news.
Read More.
To read more about these journalists, read our Truthdigger of the Week piece on them here.
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
His 30-year reign in unstable region came to an end in 2011 Arab Spring revolt, which has been followed by years of chaos and uncertainty.
The treatment of a local high-schooler by administration staff and Secret Service agents at a rally in Montana is an example of the president's pernicious pettiness.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.