The Canadian Press
TORONTO—Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy planned to attend a news conference hosted by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression today at Ryerson University in Toronto.
The former Al-Jazeera journalist, who was arrested in Egypt in 2013 with two colleagues and detained on terror-related charges, arrived in Toronto on Sunday.
Fahmy was sentenced to three years in prison in a widely-condemned retrial this year for airing what a court described as “false news’’ and coverage biased in favour of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.
He and his Egyptian co-defendant received a pardon last month while colleague Peter Greste of Australia was released earlier.
Fahmy, who has criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for not doing enough to get him back to Canada, said he made sure to come back to Canada amid the campaign because he feels it his responsibility to start a debate on the issue.
Fahmy met with Justin Trudeau last night, and tweeted that he and his wife “enjoyed meeting the tireless & inspirational” Liberal leader to “express gratitude for his support.”
Fahmy also plans to meet with NDP Tom Mulcair but said he has no plans to endorse a candidate in the federal election.
The freed journalist also tweeted yesterday that he is “excited to speak at Ryerson tomorrow 11am to thank those who supported me & highlight what Ottawa can do to better protect fellow Canadians.”
