The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed the announcement that an Egyptian court has ordered Al Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy freed on bail.
The move today came nearly two weeks after the deportation of the journalists' Australian colleague, Peter Greste, and followed international outcry demanding the pair's release.
Fahmy, a former Egyptian-Canadian citizen who last week renounced his Egyptian citizenship in a bid to be similarly deported, was ordered to pay approximately €29,000 to secure his release. However, no amount was set for the release of Baher Mohamed or for another 11 defendants accused of involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood.
International observers welcomed today's development, which came on the first day of a retrial of the two journalists still held.
"We are very pleased to learn of the release of Mr. Mohamed and Mr. Fahmy after months of unjust detention," IPI Interim Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said. "We hope that the court will now acquit them and end this case. Egypt's government has an obligation to protect journalists engaged in journalism from arbitrary arrest and detention. We urge the government to ensure that no journalists are imprisoned as a result of their work, and we note that media freedom will always be under threat unless respect for fundamental human rights and due process is guaranteed."
Al Jazeera similarly welcomed today's developments.
"Bail is a small step in the right direction, and allows Baher and Mohamed to spend time with their families after 411 days apart," an Al Jazeera spokesman said. "The focus though is still on the court reaching the correct verdict at the next hearing by dismissing this absurd case and releasing both these fine journalists unconditionally."
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The next hearing in the retrial is set for Feb. 23.
Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed were arrested in late 2013 and accused of illegally broadcasting from a Cairo hotel, spreading "false news" and "damaging national security". In June 2014, Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison and Mohamed was given a 10-year sentence. On Jan. 1, a court granted their request for a retrial.
Expectations had mounted recently that Fahmy would be deported following his renunciation of his Egyptian citizenship, but a presidential order for his deportation reportedly had been delayed. During an address to the court today before bail was ordered, Fahmy unveiled an Egyptian flag and he questioned the decision to free only Greste.
Shortly after today's decision was released, Baher Mohamed announced via Twitter: "I am free."
