Al Jazeera journalists released on bail at new trial

 

An Egyptian court released two Al Jazeera journalists on bail, and the judge ordered the release of both journalists at the opening of the retrial on Thursday, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed spent 411 days in prison. 

Two Al Jazeera English journalists appeared in court in Cairo for a retrial due to lack of evidence for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Today's retrial of Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy, and Baher Mohamed was ordered by the Court of Cassation last month, rejecting the verdicts of lower courts that found the three guilty of aiding a group declared illegal.

Greste was deported on February 1st based on a presidential decree after a retrial was ordered and returned home to Australia.

The three journalists, along with seven of their colleagues outside Egypt, were accused of spreading "false news" during their reporting on protests against the military overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Greste, Fahmy, and Mohamed received prison sentences between seven and 10 years.

In an attempt to secure his own release and deportation, Fahmy renounced his Egyptian citizenship and is awaiting his return to Canada, which he also holds citizenship of.

The journalists have repeatedly stated that they were punished simply for doing their jobs.