Jailed Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste leaves Egypt for Australia

Egypt has decided to deport jailed Australian reporter Peter Greste to his home country, a senior interior ministry official said on Sunday. Greste had been sentenced to seven years in prison along with a fellow Al-Jazeera reporter, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, for allegedly aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group. Their Egyptian Al-Jazeera colleague Baher Mohamed was also sentenced to 10 years. Neither Fahmy nor Mohamed has been released. In a statement issued on Facebook Al Jazeera said the campaign to free its journalists in Egypt will not end till all three have been released.

We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom. The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do.

Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network

Greste and Fahmy are eligible for deportation under a recent law enacted by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi allowing the deportation of foreigners to stand trial or serve their sentences in their home countries. There is no prospect that Greste or Fahmy would face trials in their home countries and Sisi’s decree appears to have been formulated in a way that allows Egypt’s authorities to save face.

We’re pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity.

Mr Souag

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