While the president of Egypt says he will not intervene in the case, the family of jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy are seeking his temporary release for medical treatment, reports the Globe and Mail.
Fahmy is the Cairo bureau chief for Al Jazeera English and was arrested in December. He and two colleagues were convicted of conspiring with the banned Muslim Brotherhood to spread false news. The case has been condemned by human rights and journalist groups around the world.
President will not intervene
In new remarks about the case, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has repeated that he cannot interfere in the judicial process now and that had he been in power at the time of the arrest he would have deported Fahmy.
Fahmy has an injured shoulder and is suffering from hepatitis C, says his brother, adding that his condition is life-threatening. His lawyers filed an appeal of the conviction last month but no date has so far been set.
Canada’s foreign affairs minister says “bullhorn diplomacy” won’t secure Fahmy’s release but his department is pursuing all legal avenues to that end.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.