The defense lawyer of three Al Jazeera journalists has issued an official statement that Egypt's high court has accepted their appeal and has ordered a retrial. Defense lawyer Mostafa Nagy added that "They will not be released until they appear before the new chamber, which will decide whether to release them or not."
The three Al Jazeera reporters are currently held in Egyptian prison for serious terrorist crimes. The three were correspondent Peter Greste and his two producers Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. Greste's lawyer Amr Al-Deed was in high spirits when he said that the Court of Cassation has deemed their appeal in order and in turn has ordered a retrial, he added that the hearing only lasted 30 minutes. The retrial will begin within a months' time.
Although the retrial has yet to commence, the three journalists have already considered this as an improvement in what they call a sluggish, unfair and political trial. Various international media bodies have already sent their support to the three jailed journalists, citing that the conviction was a clear violation of freedom of speech.
Human Rights Advocacy group Amnesty International commented that the Egyptian court's decision for a trial confirms that there might be some significant flaw in the original rulings. Hassiba Hadjsahraoui, the groups Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director said in an official statement that "These men should never have been jailed in the first place and should not have to spend one more day in prison. Instead of prolonging their unjust detention pending a retrial, they must be freed immediately.
The three journalists have already been incarcerated in Egyptian prison for 369 days after they were accused and later on found guilty in aiding the outlawed militant group Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian government has yet to release an official state about the reversal of the original ruling.
