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The Fahmy saga: 10 key twists in his legal nightmare in Egypt

JUSTICE

Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy at his father’s home in southern Cairo on Feb. 20, 2015.

Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy at his father’s home in southern Cairo on Feb. 20, 2015.

AMIR MAKAR/FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Egyptian authorities have tried him twice, accused him of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and given him the runaround for almost two years about whether he could be deported back to Canada. Now, Mohamed Fahmy has been pardoned. Here are some of the abrupt turns his legal ordeal has taken

This article was published more than 8 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

1. DECEMBER, 2013: FAHMY ARRESTED

Mohamed Fahmy, Al Jazeera's English-language bureau chief in Egypt and an Egyptian-Canadian dual citizen, was arrested Dec. 29 with Australian journalist Peter Greste, Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed and cameraman Mohamed Fawzy (who was released soon after). The three – who became known as the "Marriott Cell" in Egyptian media because of the hotel where they were arrested – were accused of filming illegal interviews with members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Egyptian government had recently declared a terrorist group.

2. JANUARY, 2014: FAHMY INTERROGATED

Mr. Fahmy endured several rounds of interrogation and allegations of broadcasting "false news" that harmed Egypt's national security. Egyptian prosecutors intimated that some of the detained journalists were members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

3. FEBRUARY, 2014: THE FIRST TRIAL

The three journalists were formally charged Feb. 20 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. They called their imprisonment "psychologically unbearable," and said they were allowed only one hour a day outside their cells. In March, Egypt's then-president Adly Mansour promised Mr. Fahmy's family a "fast resolution" to his case, but the trial turned out to be anything but.

Al Jazeera English bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy, left, producer Baher Mohamed, second left, and correspondent Peter Greste, middle, stands inside a defendants’ cage with others in Egyptian courtroom on March 5, 2014.

Al Jazeera English bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy, left, producer Baher Mohamed, second left, and correspondent Peter Greste, middle, stands inside a defendants’ cage with others in Egyptian courtroom on March 5, 2014.

MOHAMMED ABU ZAID/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The case was adjourned and delayed multiple times as some of the prosecution's video evidence was thrown out by the judge. At other times, the defence was not even allowed to see the evidence in advance unless they paid $180,000, a demand they rejected. In April, 2014, John Baird, then Canada's foreign affairs minister, said he raised Mr. Fahmy's case with his counterpart in Cairo, but faced criticism that Ottawa wasn't doing enough to help him.

4. JUNE, 2014: THE FIRST VERDICT

On June 23, the court convicted the three Al Jazeera journalists, sentencing Mr. Greste and Mr. Fahmy to seven years in prison and Mr. Mohamed to 10. "I swear they will pay for this," Mr. Fahmy said in court. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned the verdict.

In July, new Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said he wished the three had never been tried – their case had a "very negative" impact on the country's reputation – but he said he would not interfere in the court's decision.

‘They will pay!’ Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy yells after sentencing in Egypt

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The fiancée of Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy is consoled by a friend in a Cairo courtroom on June 23, 2014.

The fiancée of Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy is consoled by a friend in a Cairo courtroom on June 23, 2014.

AHMED ABD EL LATIF/ASSOCIATED PRESS

5. NOVEMBER, 2014: HOPE FOR DEPORTATION

On Nov. 12, Mr. al-Sissi issued a decree granting him the power to deport foreigners convicted or accused of crimes. Mr. Greste and Mr. Fahmy, who had also filed an appeal to his case, applied to be deported under the new law. Mr. al-Sissi also said a presidential pardon was being examined for the journalists.

6. JANUARY, 2015: RETRIAL ANNOUNCED

On Jan. 1, Egyptian authorities ordered a retrial for the Al Jazeera journalists. Meanwhile, Mr. Fahmy's family said deportation papers were being prepared for him, and Mr. Baird visited Cairo to discuss the case.

Canadian foreign affairs minister John Baird is shown in December, 2014.

Canadian foreign affairs minister John Baird is shown in December, 2014.

SEAN KILPATRICK/THE CANADIAN PRESS

7. FEBRUARY, 2015: THE DEPORTATION THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN

Mr. Greste was released Feb. 1, and deported to his native Australia. Mr. Greste said he felt "incredible angst" about leaving his colleagues behind, and called for their immediate release. Mr. Baird said Canadian authorities expected Mr. Fahmy to be on a plane within days, and Egypt's Interior Ministry publicly released the text of a decree that would allow Mr. Fahmy to renounce his Egyptian citizenship, which would clear the way for his deportation. (The same week, reports emerged that Mr. Baird would soon resign his cabinet seat and step down as MP for Ottawa West-Nepean.)

Plans for Mr. Fahmy's deportation were thrown into chaos, however, when Egyptian authorities set a Feb. 12 date for his retrial. Canadian officials pressed the Egyptian government to explain the reversal. Mr. Fahmy was released on bail on Feb. 12, ending more than 400 days of captivity.

8. FEBRUARY-JUNE, 2015: TRIALS AND PASSPORT TRIBULATIONS

At the second trial, several details of the prosecution's case from the first trial began to unravel. Asked about the specifics of the government's case, prosecution witnesses replied, "I don't remember." Meanwhile, Mr. Fahmy sought Ottawa's help to get a Canadian passport while he awaited the outcome of the case, but the government at first refused, citing Mr. Fahmy's bail conditions. After political pressure in the House of Commons, the government reversed its decision on the passport.

From the archives: Fahmy explains in his own words why he still needs Canadian support

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9. AUGUST, 2015: THE SECOND VERDICT

The Cairo court, which had originally announced a July 30 verdict, delayed its decision twice before finding Mr. Fahmy guilty on Aug. 29 and sentencing him to three years in prison. Mr. Mohamed was sentenced to six months in jail, and a fine. Ottawa again petitioned Egypt to pardon and deport Mr. Fahmy.

10. SEPTEMBER, 2015: THE PARDON ARRIVES

On Sept. 23, Mr. al-Sissi announced that Mr. Fahmy would be among 100 young prisoners pardoned on humanitarian and medical grounds.