Amal Clooney to Visit Egypt to Push for Journalist’s Release

Amal Clooney has requested a meeting with Egypt’s president to push for the release of jailed Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy, as it emerged he and a colleague would face retrial on Feb. 12.

“Despite clear assurances that he would be released, Mr. Fahmy remains in detention in Egypt,” Clooney wrote in her letter to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, according to CTV News. “I therefore plan to visit Cairo in the near future to meet with Mr Fahmy and to discuss the prospects for his release.”

Three journalists working for Al Jazeera English were arrested 13 months ago in Egypt and imprisoned on charges of “spreading false news” and collaborating with a terrorists.

See the Elegant Style of Amal Clooney

Earlier this month, Egypt released Australian journalist Peter Greste, but the other two, including Fahmy, remain in jail. Egyptian authorities announced Sunday that the journalists would appear in court for a retrial this week, Al Jazeera reports.

“Since Mr. Greste’s release, Mr. Fahmy’s Egyptian cousel has been informed by Egyptian government officials that his release was to follow, and that it was imminent,” Clooney wrote in the letter. “This was to be expected, given that Mr. Fahmy has been the victim of the same injustice as Mr. Greste.”

This would be Clooney’s first in-person meeting with her client.