Jailed Canadian-Egyptian Journalist Could Soon Be Deported

Date has yet to be set, family says

(L-R) Al-Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed, Mohammed Fahmy, and Peter Greste appear in court during their trial on terror charges in Cairo on March 31, 2014. Fahmy’s family says they have requested his deportation and were told by a senior official the process is in its “final stages.” AP Photo/Heba Elkholy, El Shorouk

CAIRO, Egypt—The family of a Canadian-Egyptian journalist imprisoned in Cairo for more than a year says they have been told he is set to be deported soon and hope an upcoming visit by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will speed up the process.

Mohammed Fahmy is one of three Al-Jazeera English journalists who were convicted last year of terror-related charges and sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison.

Last week an Egyptian court ordered a retrial for Fahmy and his colleagues, Australian correspondent Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian producer, but a date has yet to be set.

Fahmy’s fiancee said Tuesday, Jan. 7, that the family hopes he will be deported before the new trial.

We obviously were pleased that he was granted an appeal.

— Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird