Egypt Frees and Deports Australian Al Jazeera Reporter

Peter Greste, an Australian reporter jailed in Egypt for more than a year, was deported, winding down a case emblematic of the crackdown that imprisoned tens of thousands of perceived opponents of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi ’s new regime after a coup. Greste was one of three imprisoned reporters from the Qatar-based Al Jazeera English language channel.

There was no word on the fate of his colleagues, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed. Greste, who had served 400 days of a 7-year sentence on charges of aiding a terrorist organization, left on a flight to Cyprus. Egypt didn’t explain why he was released early. The decision came a few months after President Sisi granted himself the power to to repatriate foreign prisoners, raising hopes that all three would be released soon.