Egyptian Court Orders Release of 2 Al Jazeera Journalists

CAIRO — An Egyptian court on Thursday ordered the release of two journalists jailed here for more than a year on charges of broadcasting false news in a conspiracy with the Muslim Brotherhood, evidently moving to end a downpour of international criticism over the case.

The release followed the publication earlier this week of a previously undisclosed opinion by Egypt’s highest appeals court condemning the journalists’ conviction as baseless when it ordered a retrial. The release also comes at a time when the Egyptian government appears to be attempting to remedy some of the international criticism it has received after a series of harsh criminal convictions issued during a crackdown on dissent after the military takeover about 18 months ago.

Both journalists, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were working for the English-language network of the Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera when they were arrested at the end of 2013. After hearing brief statements, the judge ordered Mr. Fahmy released on bail of $33,000; Mr. Mohamed and the other defendants had only to provide their addresses.

But in December, Saudi Arabia brokered a reconciliation meeting between Egypt and Qatar in an attempt to heal the regional rift. Qatar agreed to close down its Egyptian outlet while Egypt reportedly agreed to stop encouraging its pro-government news media to attack Qatar. Immediately after that agreement was reached, Diaa Rashwan, the chairman of the Egyptian journalists syndicate and an analyst close to the government, predicted that the Al Jazeera’s journalists would soon be released.

Merna Thomas contributed reporting.

The New York Times