Egypt Criminal Court Finally Frees Al Jazeera Journalists On Bail

Cairo (CNN) - Two Al Jazeera journalists who'd been imprisoned in Egypt for more than a year ago were released Thursday, with a court telling them they can await retrial away from jail in a case that has outraged journalists and activists around the globe. An Egyptian court Thursday ordered journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed freed ahead of their retrial on charges accusing them of supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Their release comes less than two weeks after Al Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, a colleague who'd been convicted with them, was released and deported to his native Australia.

Fahmy, an Egyptian-Canadian, was released on a bail of 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($32,750). Mohamed, an Egyptian citizen, was not required to post bail but is barred from leaving the country ahead of the retrial. The case is scheduled to resume on February 23.

Al Jazeera applauded the two journalists' release but called for their full exoneration. "Bail is a small step in the right direction, and allows Baher and Mohamed to spend time with their families after 411 days apart. The focus, though, is still on the court reaching the correct verdict at the next hearing by dismissing this absurd case and releasing both these fine journalists unconditionally." an Al Jazeera spokesman said. "

Fahmy, Mohamed and Greste were arrested in Egypt in December 2013, accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and broadcasting footage including video of clashes between police and protesters that portrayed the regime falsely with the intention of bringing it down.

The journalists have said they were just doing their jobs, covering all sides of stories in Egypt. All three were convicted last year on charges that included conspiring with the Brotherhood, spreading false news and endangering national security, but they have maintained their innocence. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison and Mohamed to 10 years.

Source: CNN.com