Mohamed Fahmy, the Canadian journalist for Al-Jazeera who has spent over a year in prison, was released from prison in Cairo early today, a day after he was granted bail while awaiting a retrial on terror-related charges.
Adel Fahmy, his brother, confirmed the release to CBC News, saying the release happened suddenly just after 4 a.m. local time.
"We're not exactly clear what the bail conditions were, if he has to surrender travel documents ... I think there's also a sense from the family that Mohamed had to give up his citizenship under duress; he wanted to keep both passports," CBC reporter Derek Stoffel said from Cairo.
Fahmy, who was born in Egypt and is a naturalized Canadian, will reportedly have to check into a police station daily as part of his bail conditions, Stoffel said.
Can't see on mobile? Read Derek Stoffel's tweet
Fahmy was arrested along with two colleagues from Al-Jazeera in December 2013. They were accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and spreading false news to undermine Egypt's national security.
Peter Greste was freed earlier this month and returned to his native Australia. Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, was also released on Friday, a few hours after Fahmy.
At an initial trial in February 2014, Fahmy and his colleagues rejected the charges against them and pleaded not guilty – but all three were convicted and handed multi-year sentences. Egypt's top court later ordered a retrial, saying their conviction was based on "flawed evidence" and that the trial was marred by violations of the defendants' rights.
Ban Ki-moon urges quick resolutions
A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a statement early Friday, saying:
"The secretary general welcomes the decision by the Egyptian authorities to release on bail the journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed," it says. "He hopes that their cases, as well as those of other journalists in detention, will be resolved expeditiously and in accordance with Egypt's international obligations to protect the freedoms of expression and association."
Can't see on mobile? Read tweet of Faher Mohamed's colleague here
Fahmy's parents moved to Canada in 1991, with all becoming Canadian citizens and living in Montreal.
His fiancée, Marwa Omara, has repeatedly spoken out about Fahmy's incarceration and efforts to have him released.
Omara broke into tears as the news of his bail was announced and later told CBC News she looked forward to seeing Fahmy out of prison clothes and smiling.
Marwa Omara, fiancée of Canadian Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy, has been consistently calling for Fahmy's release and was in court Thursday when he was granted bail. (Hassan Ammar/The Associated Press)
Fahmy, 40, renounced his Egyptian citizenship, leading to the expectation that he could be deported to Canada. However, it was announced in recent days that he would be retried along with Baher Mohamed.
Clooney statement
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs was not immediately available to comment on Fahmy's release. His family and lawyer, Amal Clooney have been seeking more advocacy from the Canadian government.
Clooney issued a statement saying there was no guarantee that the retrial will comply with international standards.
She said Fahmy could be sent home to Canada on the same basis that his Australian colleague Peter Greste was repatriated.
"Mr. Fahmy is eligible for transfer under this same law — and the retrial process that began today does not change that."
She urged Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to help.
"There is no impediment to his immediate transfer to Canada and Prime Minister Harper should personally intervene to ensure that the promise that was made by the Egyptian government to his government, and to its citizen, is now honoured," she said.
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