Egypt’s president pardons prisoners, including Al-Jazeera journalist

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has reportedly pardoned prisoners, including Canadian Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy.

Egypt’s state-run news agency MENA says Mr Fahmy is among a number of prisoners, including prominent human rights activists, to be released.

Lawyer Khaled Abu Bakr confirmed the pardon and says his client is a “professional and innocent journalist”.

Irish teenager, Ibrahim Halawa, is among the many imprisoned in Egypt. He faces a number of charges since being arrested at a protest in Cairo two years ago and. last month, his trial was adjourned until October.

Mr Fahmy was sentenced to three years in prison last month for airing what a court described as “false news” and biased coverage. His colleague Baher Mohammed was also sentenced in the case.

Prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif are also among those pardoned, according to MENA.