British Barrister Amal Clooney, defending Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who is held in the ‘Marriott cell’ lawsuit of arrested Al Jazeera journalists, called on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon or release and immediately deport him on health grounds.
In a press statement on Friday issued by the Doughty Street barristers Clooney and Lorne Waldman, Clooney expressed disappointment upon meeting between Egyptian and Canadian foreign ministers as “nothing more concrete was announced after the meeting.”
“We hope that the Canadian government is resolved to continue the diplomatic process until Fahmy is released and can return home,” the statement added.
Clooney pointed to last week’s meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry and his Canadian counterpart John Baird, saying Baird explained during the press conference held after the meeting that the discussion was constructive and they expect resolution for the falsely-imprisoned journalist Mohamed Fahmy to be reached “in short order.”
However, Clooney thanked the Canadian government for efforts to return Fahmy to his country.
“The Egyptian President has the power to pardon Mr Fahmy – who was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison on bogus charges of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and fabricating false news following an unfair trial. Under Egypt’s constitution this pardon can be issued any time. Even if he is not pardoned, Mr Fahmy can immediately be deported or released on health grounds. Although Egypt’s highest court has now ordered a retrial, this will be a lengthy process, with no guarantee of a fair outcome the second time around. It is therefore essential that Fahmy be transferred to Canada as soon as possible, in compliance with Egyptian and Canadian laws and applicable international instruments,” Clooney said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
