Brussels, 25/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 September, Europeans hailed the amnesty that was granted by Egypt to Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, and to several young activists, including Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif.
“The pardoning of journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed by Egyptian President Sisi, ahead of Eid Al-Adha, is a postive step”, said the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. “A free, diverse and independent media is essential in a democratic society”, the spokesperson added, encouraging the Egyptian authorities to promote a safe environment for journalists. European Parliament President Martin Schulz hailed the “common sense approach” taken by Sisi, and added that “it ends a case on unfounded grounds”. The Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed, and Australian Peter Greste (in absentia) were sentenced at the end of August to three years in prison as they were found guilty of having “distributed false information” in order to support the Muslim Brotherhood, and of having worked without the necessary authorisation (see EUROPE 11378).
Mogherini's spokesperson also described the pardoning of several young activists, including Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, as “an encouraging move”. They had been accused of violating the “protest law” and of protesting without authorisation (see EUROPE 11186). “We call for the release of all activists charged with violating this law”, Mogherini's spokesperson said, stating that the EU looks forward to the amendment of this law by the new parliament, “in keeping with the Egyptian Constitution”.
The EU will continue to support Egypt in its political transition and in meeting the aspiration of the Egyptian people, Mogherini's spokesperson stated. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)