Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian-born Al Jazeera journalist recently released from prison in Egypt, had strong words for his country’s prime minister, Stephen Harper, saying at a press conference on Tuesday he felt “betrayed and abandoned” by the conservative politician.
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Fahmy told The Associated Press that he arrived in Toronto Sunday.
“Sitting in that prison cell, it was hard not to feel betrayed and abandoned by Prime Minister Harper”, Fahmy said.
His arrival ends a near two-year ordeal that raised questions about Egypt’s commitment to free speech and whether Canada’s Conservative government did enough to help him.
Fahmy was arrested in 2013 with his two Al-Jazeera colleagues, Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohamed.
On August. 29, all three men were sentenced to three years in prison for airing what the court described as “false news” and biased coverage.
“In the Middle East right now, the political turmoil is intense and others could be in my situation”, he added.
A retrial wrapped up this summer; Fahmy and his two colleagues were convicted a second time before Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi granted them an official pardon as part of the release of 100 prisoners on the eve of the Muslim Eid holiday.
Greste was released a year before Fahmy and Mohamed and sent back to Australia. He also accused former foreign affairs minister John Baird of prolonging his incarceration when he said Canada would not prosecute Fahmy if Egypt kicked him out.
“I’m a journalist; I can not endorse anyone”, he said after meeting Mulcair. Fahmy 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.
Speaking to CTV News Channel directly after the news conference, Fahmy said the government needs to support its citizens overseas “in the most aggressive manner”.
Fahmy said other Canadian officials including the ambassador in Cairo were “diligent and well-intentioned”. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Fahmy, who moved to Canada with his family in 1991, has said he plans to take up a position as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of journalism in Vancouver.
He also lashed out at Harper for his attempt to ban women from wearing the Muslim face-veil during citizenship ceremonies, which has proven pivotal in the election race.
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With files from The Canadian Press.
