Doha: Seven Al Jazeera journalists and employees convicted in absentia by Egypt’s courts yesterday said they are in the process of formally requesting that President Mohammed Fatah Al Sisi intervene in their cases.
The seven are part of the same case that saw Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy walk free from jail last week.
The case has become a cause célèbre around the world and a lightning rod for discussion and activism on press freedom.
The septet includes Peter Greste released in February this year after over a year in prison.
Despite being released from prison and sent back to Australia by presidential order, his name continued to be called in a later retrial, leading to his conviction for a second time.
He is asking Al Sisi to fully resolve the case.
Others include four Egyptians and two Britons whose lives have been affected in multifaceted ways.
Mohamed Fawzy, Alaa Bayoumi, Khalil Bahnacy and Anas Abdel Wahab work for different channels across Al Jazeera network and are unable to return to their home country of Egypt as a result of the court action.
Some didn’t work in Egypt during the period of the case, nor did they have contact with anyone else involved. Dominic Kane is an Al Jazeera English Senior Producer and Sue Turton gave up her job as a roving international correspondent due to travel restrictions upon her by the case.
At a press conference hosted by Committee to Protect Journalists, in New York yesterday, the group said following the breakthrough for Mohamed and Fahmy, they also must be allowed to put the unjust convictions behind them through an intervention by Al Sisi. The Peninsula
