Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste has been released from prison after spending 400 days behind bars. Greste, along with fellow Al Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy, had been accused of colluding with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Commenting on the release of Peter Greste, Thomas Hughes ARTICLE 19 Director said:
“We were extremely pleased to hear about the release of Peter Greste yesterday, but it is vital that the world does not forget his colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy, who were also convicted in an unfair trial and remain in prison in Cairo.”
“Indeed we should also remember the many other less well-known journalists who remain in prison in Egypt.
“Their arrests and sentences are part of a widespread crackdown on freedom of expression in a country which routinely locks up journalists who are questioning an extremely repressive regime.
“We call on the Egyptian government to immediately release Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and all other journalists who have been arrested for doing their job. They have committed no crime. Egypt should also amend all laws relating to freedom of expression and assembly in line with its commitments to international law.”
Egypt’s military deposed President Morsi in July 2013 after widespread protests, and since then thousands of people have been arrested under a harsh new anti-protest law, where journalists can be arrested for merely reporting on the protests.