Canadian journalist released after Egyptian presidential pardon

Canada is pleased that Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has granted Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy a pardon, according to a statement issued by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Wednesday.

"The Government of Canada will continue to provide Mr. Fahmy with consular assistance and will assist in facilitating his departure from Egypt," said Lynne Yelich, the Canadian minister of state for foreign affairs and consular Wednesday.

Fahmy and Al Jazeera colleague Baher Mohamed were among 100 people pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Wednesday.

Fahmy was serving as acting bureau chief in Cairo for Al Jazeera's English network when he was arrested in 2013 along with two colleagues, Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed.

They spent more than a year in prison after being sentenced to between seven and 10 years in jail when an appeal of their convictions resulted in a second trial. Greste was deported from Egypt last February, while Fahmy and Mohamed were granted bail pending the second verdict.

They were sentenced to three years in jail at the end of last month for airing what the court described as "false news" and biased coverage. The ruling said the men were members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, which Egyptian authorities consider a terrorist organization.

The case has long been criticized by press freedom advocates. Amnesty International called the verdicts "an affront to justice that sound the death knell for freedom of expression in Egypt."

Canada, through its embassy in Cairo, appealed to the Egyptian government to pardon Fahmy or allow his deportation to Canada.

Fahmy's family also called on the Canadian government to do more, including for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call publicly for Fahmy's release.

In early September, more than 300 prominent Canadians also urged Prime Minister Harper to press Egypt to release him. Enditem