Egypt released Al-Jazeera journalists

A court in Cairo has released Al-Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy, setting a bail bond of $33,000 for the latter’s release.

The pair have been held in Egyptian prisons for 411 days for “spreading lies to help a terrorist group”.

Their Australian co-worker Peter Greste had been released from jail on February 1. He was released under a new law that allows the Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi to deport foreigners at any time during their prosecution.

Canadian Fahmy denounced his Egyptian nationality to qualify for deportation; however Mohamed has no other nationality to fall back on.

Throughout their incarceration the three strongly denied that they had links to any terrorist organisation or the Muslim Brotherhood.

Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed were given sentences of between seven and 10 years.

“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,” an Al-Jazeera spokesperson said following the news.

Judge Hassan Farid said the next hearing would be on February 23.

Images from Anadolu Agency