Egypt court frees Al Jazeera journalists

A court in Egypt has ordered the release of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, journalists of Al Jazeera, who were imprisoned in December 2013, for allegedly aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

They were accused of spreading false news to assist an outlawed organisation.

However, at the commencement of their retrial on Thursday, Hassan Farid, the presiding judge, ordered that the two men be released on bail, while proceedings were adjourned till February 23.

Though Mohamed was not required to pay any amount for bail, Fahmy was asked to pay 250,000 Egyptian pounds.

Their retrial was ordered by the Court of Cessation in January, overturning a lower court’s verdict which found them guilty of aiding the sect.

Their release comes less than two weeks after their colleague, Peter Greste, was released and deported to his native Australia.

Fahmy has given up his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation to Canada, but Mohamed has no foreign passport.

After Greste was released, news emerged that Fahmy and Mohamed were to be re-tried in the case.

The prospect of a retrial “represents our worst nightmare,” Fahmy said in a statement released by his family.

The journalists have continuously denied collaborating with the Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.