Analysts: Sisi's remarks are prelude to acquitting Al-Jazeera journalists

“I wish they had been deported and not put on trial,” so said Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi in his meeting with local journalists this week, in reference to the jailed Al-Jazeera correspondents who have recently been convicted of aiding a terrorist group.

According to the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Sisi confirmed that he “did not interfere” in the ruling and that it had “very negative effects”.

Earlier, however, Al-Sisi defended the verdicts, hailing Egyptian judiciary as “independent” and confirming that he had no hand in the decision.

Analysts and legal experts interpreted Al-Sisi’s latest remarks as a prelude to overturning the verdicts, either through the courts or a presidential pardon.

Egyptian journalist Selim Azouz said the statements indicate that Al-Sisi might be rethinking the decision following the international outcry that ensued.

“On the one hand, Sisi wanted to reassure his rivals, on the other, he wanted to prepare his supporters to accept the acquittal,” Azouz told Aljazeera.net, pointing out that some Al-Sisi supporters may consider the acquittal a defeat.

He added that Al-Sisi “may have felt that it’s high time many of the controversial decisions are overturned, especially the jailing of Al-Jazeera journalists and a number of revolutionary youth.”

Azouz ruled out that Al-Sisi would issue a pardon for jailed journalists and activists, so that other prisoners may not demand him to do the same in other cases.

Nasserist politician Ahmed Abdelhafiz said the comments “reflect Sisi’s understanding of the current situation in Egypt, and confirm his non-interference in the judicial process.” He considered them “a sign that journalists will be released soon,” noting that political interference in such cases is likely, to mend their negative consequences.

Concerning the way the journalists might be released, Abdelhafiz said the appeal process could be expedited and their acquittal could be handed from the first session. He also added that the law allows the public prosecutor to halt the implementation of the verdicts until the appeals process is exhausted.

Head of the Arab Organisation for Criminal Reform Mohamed Zaree spoke with similar optimism, saying he expected the journalists either to be acquitted or pardoned by the president. He hailed Al-Sisi’s remarks as “wise”.

Al-Jazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been handed jail sentences between seven and 10 years after being convicted of “aiding a terrorist group” and falsifying news. The verdicts were met with international outrage from governments and human rights organisations.