Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who was the Cairo bureau chief for Al Jazeera’s English-language network then jailed for “broadcasting false news” and sentenced to seven years in prison, has written an open letter criticizing his employer.
Published in the Friday (March 6) edition of the Globe and Mail newspaper, Fahmy writes that despite his gratitude for a world-wide campaign for his release, and his release on bail to prepare for a trial, “my celebratory mood has been rather reserved in this state of semi-freedom I have enjoyed since being released on bail, pending appeal, by the Egyptian courts.”
He continues:
The integrity I have embraced throughout my journalism career is why I feel obliged to reveal what Al Jazeera has opted to hide from the eyes of the public. I may lose the privilege of being able to write these words if the judge decides to boot me back to prison at any stage of the retrial.
The news I must reveal, unknown to most outside observers, is that unfortunately, there was “evidence” to incriminate us in this case.
The “evidence” he refers to is a confession “under duress” by “Baher Mohamed – my colleague, cellmate, and friend” which included “accusations which include assisting the Muslim Brotherhood, who have been designated a terrorist group, and fabricating news to portray Egypt as being in a state of civil war.”
He then outlines his concerns with Al Jazeera:
An Al Jazeera security representative visited us in prison and relayed the message of the network: “It [the confession] will disappear – don’t worry.” I knew it would not, as I lost sleep behind bars, and indeed it came back to haunt us when the judge referred to it in his judgment report explaining the verdict that led to my seven-year prison sentence.
He ends his letter with the following:
I have not lost sight of the Egyptian prosecution who unjustly put me behind bars, and I have been the most outspoken in court and in my statements released from prison throughout the past year against my captors. However, challenging Al Jazeera’s epic negligence on behalf of scores of current and former staff members is also my responsibility before they end up behind bars.
More information:
Open letter Mohamed Fahmy – here
Globe and Mail – Fahmy says interference from Al Jazeera contributed to his plight in Egypt – here
Toronto Star – Journalist Fahmy says Al Jazeera partly to blame for his ordeal – here
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