Jailed journalist "anxious" over appeal

Al-Jazeera producer Baher Mohamed, left, acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, center, and correspondent Peter Greste, right, when they appeared in court in March during their trial on terror charges, in Cairo, Egypt. Photo AP

After a sombre Christmas visit, Peter Greste's family is hoping the unpredictable Egyptian legal system will soon free the Australian journalist.

Greste was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in June last year, along with two colleagues - Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed - working for Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, after being convicted of publishing false news and aiding a terrorist organisation.

Greste has been in custody since December 29 2013.

Mike and Andrew Greste told reporters on Monday they don't believe their brother will be released before the January 1 appeal.

"The Egyptian president has said a few days after he was convicted that he wouldn't be pardoning Peter until the legal processes have been finalised," Mike Greste said.
"Going on that statement I guess we have to hang our hopes on the legal process."

Parents Lois and Juris Greste visited their son in prison on Christmas day, however they were not able to give presents because of strict gift rules.

"It was a sombre occasion. Peter is getting fairly anxious in the lead up to January 1," Mike Greste said. "It has been a trying Christmas and certainly a lonely one."

He said they understand the appeal, which will be conducted in a closed court, could result in four outcomes.

The best outcome would be for all charges to be dropped, but the hearing could also result in his seven-year sentence being reduced, a retrial or the appeal being dismissed.

Andrew Greste said his brother was distracting himself from the thought of losing the appeal by doing an International Relations degree through Griffith University.

He said Peter had been handwriting his assignments which were screened by prison authorities before being sent to the university. So far, he said his brother has been receiving good marks.

He said the family was happy with the Australian government's involvement, in particular Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

While Ms Bishop has been told by her Egyptian counterpart there'd be no pardon or clemency before the appeal, she said she had hoped for some progress on the 12-month anniversary.

Lois and Juris Greste are hopeful their son will soon taste freedom.

In a written statement read out by their sons, they said the past 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride.

"When we were first advised of his arrest this time last year we were spending time on our hobby farm in the Lockyer Valley oblivious to the turmoil that lay ahead," the statement said.

"Never did we expect that we'd be spending the next 12 months campaigning for Peter's release."

They said they were naive because they thought it would be a short and quick trial resulting in their son's release because he was innocent and there was no evidence linking him to the charges against him.

"We are just a small cog in a massive fight for justice."