Mohamed Fahmy will appeal sentence
Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy will appeal his conviction on terrorism charges that placed him in an Egyptian prison for seven years. The family of the former Al-Jazeera English bureau chief announced the appeal August 20.
By Grant Buckler
Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy will appeal his conviction on terrorism charges that placed him in an Egyptian prison for seven years. The family of the former Al-Jazeera English bureau chief announced the appeal August 20.
CTV News quoted his brother, Adel Fahmy, saying Mohamed Fahmy was reluctant to appeal because he lacked confidence in the legal process in Egypt, but was finally persuaded to do so. Two other Al-Jazeera journalists who were arrested with him in December have already filed appeals of their seven- and 10-year sentences.
Fahmy outlined his reasons for hesitating to appeal in a letter to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression earlier this month.
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Grant Buckler is a retired freelance journalist and a volunteer with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and lives in Kingston, Ont.