Egypt Today rounds up this week’s news and milestones
By Egypt Today Staff
AJE Journalist Peter Greste Released, Mohamed Fahmy Gives Up Egyptian Citizenship
Australian journalist Peter Greste, one of the journalists involved in the Al Jazeera English trial, was pardoned by President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi and released on February 1. Following his release, Greste immediately boarded a plane bound for his home country.
News of Greste’s release comes after an Egyptian court accepted an appeal on January 1 that would order a retrial in the court case.
Greste, along with fellow Al Jazeera English journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, was in prison for over a year following their arrest on December 29, 2013. The three journalists were sentenced to seven years in prison for aiding a terrorist organization and for threatening Egypt's national security, in what has been labeled as the "Marriott Cell" case.
Rumors of Greste’s potential pardon and release from prison began circulating in mid-January, in addition to reports that Fahmy would also seek deportation to Canada. Two days after Greste’s release, on February 3, local media outlets reported that Fahmy had renounced his Egyptian nationality with the belief that doing so would open the road for his deportation to Canada. Prior to this announcement, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said that Fahmy’s release was “imminent.” Other reports cited that Fahmy was asked to either remain in prison or let go of his Egyptian nationality.
While Greste and Fahmy held onto hope for release or deportation thanks to their foreign nationalities, their Egyptian colleague Baher is set to remain behind bars with what appears to be no hope for release. In addition to the seven-year sentence, Baher was also sentenced to an additional three years for being in possession of a bullet at the time of his arrest.
In
Peter Greste’s interview with Al Jazeera English following his release, he said, “You spend 400 days in such close proximity with people and you really get to know them very well, so it was a very difficult moment walking out of that prison saying goodbye to those guys not knowing how much longer they will have to put up with this.”
Bashir Al Aadl, founder of the Committee for the Defence of the Independence of the Press,
expressed his hope that other official actions will be taken to release all Egyptian journalists, and those with dual citizenships, who haven’t been found to have been involved in any criminal activity or issues of national security, in respect for the freedom of expression and opinion, which is guaranteed by the constitution. He also added that the deportation proceedings came from a clear desire to take the law into account without submitting to any outside pressures, which confirms the independence of Egypt’s decision.
Head of the Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan said he expects the release of journalist Mohamed Fahmy, a defendant in the Al Jazeera case, in the coming days. In a statement to Youm7, he added that there were many circumstances since the beginning of Peter Greste’s case that relate to his causing the country a lot of problems. The head of the Press Syndicate noted that the matter was cleared up when President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued a presidential pardon for the Australian journalist, pointing out that it was a good start.
“A message of peace to the Western media” is how
Nagi Al Shahabi, head of El Geel party,
described President Al-Sisi’s decision to release Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste, stressing that Al-Sisi wanted to send a message to the Western media, which always puts the blame on Egypt. Al Shahabi said that Egypt wants Western journalists who come here to abide by the laws and rules of the country, and to not deviate from them and to not work against the country’s interests for a specific purpose.
Yehia Kadry, Vice Chairman of the National Movement, believes that the release of the Al Jazeera journalist or keeping him in prison will not help Egyptian-Qatari relations because journalists work away from the corridors of politics, and do not have any personal interests. Kadry said that all they have to do is respect Egyptian laws as long as they work inside Egypt.
Political thinker Gamal Asaad said, “There’s no doubt that Al Jazeera has managed to cause a media and political battle on a global level as a result of the arrest and trial of three of its journalists, and President Al-Sisi has emphasized more than once that he doesn’t condone arresting and prosecuting the media, and that if he had been president when they were arrested they would’ve been deported to their countries.”
Hafez Abu Saada, member of the National Council for Human Rights, explained that the international community demanded the release of Al Jazeera’s journalists more than once, and the president’s decision corresponds with these international claims because major countries and international organizations like the United Nations have called for their release.
Violence Escalates in North Sinai
A series of violent attacks in North Sinai killed at least 30 and injured over 100 on January 29, according to state media. The scope and size of the attacks were unprecedented, taking place at 10 military facilities in Al-Arish, Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah.
Wilayat Sinai (State of Sinai), previously known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement released on January 30. In the statement, Wilayat Sinai claimed to have killed hundreds of people; however, the Egyptian government claims that the number is much lower.
The attacks varied in scope and scale, some involving car bombs and some mortar rounds that targeted checkpoints or military vehicles, according to local news reports.
Violence and militant attacks have continued to plague Sinai since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Wilayat Sinai has claimed most of the responsibility for these attacks. The group swore allegiance to Daish (the Islamic State) in November 2014.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during his speech at Al Galaa Theater, “In front of everyone here bearing witness, take the responsibility of not letting this happen again, to me and to the Egyptian people you are responsible for developing Sinai and you are responsible to make sure that what happened doesn’t happen again. We are all with you, may God help you. And let everyone hear that we are going forward with rebuilding before seeking revenge and killing criminals.”
The Minister of Health Adel El-Adawi said in a statement on Monday that there is a need for cohesion between Egyptians, the military and the people to face this brutal terrorism. Adawi wished a speedy recovery for the injured and called for their return to their posts to fight against terrorism and move towards a stable and secure Egypt. Adawi said that he saw in the eyes of the wounded Armed Forces soldiers determination to return to North Sinai to protect Egypt, and he felt in their words a spirit capable of defeating terrorism and avenging their comrades and Egypt from terrorism, its supporters and sponsors.
Major General Hani Abdel Latif, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, said “There are requests made by a number of police officers asking to be transferred to North Sinai to meet the challenges faced by their colleagues there.”
Tamer Amin on his show Men el Akher, “And I am saying to the army, crush and don’t care, the time for kidding around is over. I don’t want to hear a single person say ‘do you want an oppressive police state’ because we need a lion of a law in the face of terrorism.”
Ahmed Zewail said in a statement that the dangerous terrorist escalation will not undermine the determination of the Egyptian people who have lined up in the same trench to rebuild Egypt. Egyptians are capable of defeating terrorism in solidarity and by supporting the brave men of the Armed Forces who are giving up their lives to defend the nation.
Abdullah Al Sinawi, journalist and political analyst, said, during an interview on Al Hadath Al Masry, “We must prepare ourselves for a difficult and expensive war with terrorism that might be long.”
Hamdeen Sabahy said on Twitter, “Our martyrs are in eternal paradise. The pain and sorrow that breaks our hearts increases our determination to root out terrorism. Egypt is facing terrorism and will defeat it.”
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