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February 3, 2015

Freed Al Jazeera Journalist Peter Greste Speaks After Release; Mohamed Fahmy Release "Imminent" 
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Freed Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste has spoken out after 400 days
in Egyptian prison. Greste and two of his Al Jazeera colleagues, Mohamed
Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were jailed for spreading false news on behalf
of the Muslim Brotherhood, which the government considers a terrorist
group. They were arrested as part of a crackdown on Al Jazeera after a
coup against Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Speaking in Cyprus, where he was flown following his release, Greste
described the lead-up to his release.

Peter Greste: "And I went for a run, and the prison warden called me
over and told me that, you know, 'Time to pack your stuff.' I said,
'What do you mean?' He said 'You're going.' I said, 'Well, where? To
another prison?' He said, 'No, no, no. The embassy is coming. They'll be
here in an hour. Get your stuff and go.' And I can't tell you that real
mix of emotions that was boiling inside — as I said to you a
moment ago, a sense of relief and excitement, but also real, real stress
at having to say goodbye to my colleagues and friends and people who
have really become family inside that prison."

Canada's foreign minister, meanwhile, has said the release of
Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy is "imminent" after Fahmy
agreed to renounce his Egyptian citizenship. Fahmy could be released
within hours. A new Egyptian law allows imprisoned foreigners to be
deported. Peter Greste is Australian. The fate of the third Al Jazeera
journalist, Baher Mohamed, remains unclear, as he is an Egyptian
citizen.

 

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