Brisbane, Australia Feb 2 – Australian journalist Peter Greste will keep fighting to free his colleagues still jailed in Egypt, his family said Monday, after he was released following more than 400 days in prison on charges of backing the Muslim Brotherhood.
Greste, an award-winning correspondent for Al-Jazeera English television, flew to Cyprus with brother Michael after his release from Cairo’s Tora prison on Sunday, Egyptian officials told AFP.
Greste was detained with colleagues Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed in December 2013 for allegedly aiding the blacklisted Brotherhood.
Their arrest sparked worldwide condemnation, with Washington and the United Nations leading calls for their release. READ: Egypt court orders retrial of jailed Jazeera reporters.
“He’s not going to forget his two other colleagues,” Peter’s brother Andrew said after the pair spoke on the telephone.
“He wanted me to pass on to everyone that he won’t give up the fight… they are completely innocent as well.”
Andrew added: “There’s no doubt that his excitement is tempered and restrained and will be until those guys are free.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott spoke of his “personal delight and our nation’s relief” at Greste’s release.
He also voiced support for a free media and thanked Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.