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Al Jazeera journalist Baher Mohamed tweets 'I am free' after Egyptian court orders his release on bail with Mohamed Fahmy

The journalists were imprisoned in June along with their Australian colleague, Peter Greste

Victoria Richards
Thursday 12 February 2015 13:30 GMT
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Al-Jazeera English producer Baher Mohamed, left, and Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, right, during their previous appearance in court
Al-Jazeera English producer Baher Mohamed, left, and Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, right, during their previous appearance in court (AP)

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An Egyptian journalist has tweeted "I am free" after a judge ordered the release of two men who spent 411 days behind bars for "spreading lies to help a terrorist group".

Baher Mohamed tweeted his joy shortly after the judge's decision along with that of Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who was told he must pay a $33,000 bail bond.

The pair were imprisoned in June along with Greste, who was freed on 1 February under a new law that allows the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, to deport foreigners at any time during their prosecution.

Al Jazeera journalists (left to right) Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed stand behind bars at a court in Cairo in May 2014
Al Jazeera journalists (left to right) Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed stand behind bars at a court in Cairo in May 2014 (Reuters)

Mr Fahmy gave up his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation to Canada, but Mr Mohamed does not have a foreign passport.

Peter Greste speaking to Al Jazeera on Monday
Peter Greste speaking to Al Jazeera on Monday

Police arrested the three journalists in December 2013 and prosecutors accused them of being involved in terrorism and of spreading false information.

The journalists, who strongly deny collaborating with the Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, said they were jailed simply for reporting the news.

Journalists and supporters demonstrate outside the Egyptian embassy as they call for the release of fellow reporters in London
Journalists and supporters demonstrate outside the Egyptian embassy as they call for the release of fellow reporters in London

Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy received seven-year prison terms, while Mr Mohamed received a longer 10-year sentence because he had been found with a spent bullet casing, before a retrial was ordered.

Egypt's top appeals court overturned their convictions last month.

Additional reporting by AP

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