Parents of jailed Australian journalist plead with Sisi for son’s release

Lois and Juris Greste, the parents of imprisoned Australian journalist Peter Greste, issued an appeal to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday for their son to be released in time for Christmas.

“We realize that the decision to free Peter isn't entirely in your hands alone, but please, please see to it that Peter is back with his family before Christmas," Juris Greste said in a press conference held in Brisbane.

The Grestes added that their hope for their son’s release was restored after watching Sisi’s interview with the French television channel France 24 on Thursday, in which the president claimed the Australian journalist’s case was currently under review.

“We just have to remain patient and hope for the best,” the couple continued.

They plan to visit Cairo in time for their son’s birthday on December 1.

Last week, Sisi issued a presidential decree empowering him to commute the sentences of foreign-born prisoners to their home countries, which raised speculation that Greste and his colleague, Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, might be allowed to leave Egypt.

Fahmy, Greste and Egyptian producer Mohamed Baher have been behind bars since June, when they received 7 to 10 year prison sentences on charges of aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood group. The three men, all affiliated with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite channel, were apprehended while covering aftermath of former President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster.

Fahmy and Greste were arrested last December after a police raid on their temporary office in the five-star Marriott hotel in Zamalek, Cairo. Baher was arrested from his home on the same day. 

Another 11 Al Jazeera employees tried on the same charges were sentenced in absentia to 10 years in jail.