Lawyer Amal Clooney wants to meet Egyptian president, press for Fahmy release

Lawyer Amal Clooney (Kostas Koutsaftikis / Shutterstock)

Lawyer Amal Clooney has requested a meeting with Egypt’s president to press for the release of Al-Jezeera journalist and Canadian citizen Mohamed Fahmy.

Clooney makes the request in a letter addressed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his foreign minister.

Fahmy and two Al Jazeera colleagues — Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohamed — were arrested in December 2013 and convicted of terror charges in a trial that has been called a sham. They were sentenced to between seven and 10 years.

Greste was released and deported to Australia a week ago and Fahmy has recently relinquished his Egyptian citizenship, which his family said was a precondition for his release.

But Clooney notes Fahmy remains in a Cairo prison with no word on when he might be released as well.

Clooney says she plans to visit Fahmy soon, and wants to meet with the president.

“Since Mr Greste’s release, Mr. Fahmy’s Egyptian counsel has been informed by Egyptian government officials that his release was to follow, and that it was imminent,” Clooney wrote.

“Since this has not yet occurred, however, I now write to request a meeting with you, or your designated officials, as soon as possible to discuss the status of the case.”