Al-Jazeera English bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy, center, producer Baher Mohamed, center left, and correspondent Peter Greste, second right, stand in a courtroom along with several other defendants during their trial on terror charges, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 31, 2014. The family of an Egyptian-Canadian journalist who has been detained in a Cairo prison since late December says they have met with Foriegn Affairs Minister John Baird. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sarah El Deeb
April 18, 2014 - 12:39 PM
TORONTO - The family of an Egyptian-Canadian journalist who has been detained in a Cairo prison since late December says they have met with Foriegn Affairs Minister John Baird.
Mohamed Fahmy was working for satellite news broadcaster Al-Jazeera English when he was arrested on Dec. 29 along with his colleagues — Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohamed.
Egyptian authorities have alleged the trio provided a platform for the Muslim Brotherhood group of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, which the local government has declared a terrorist organization.
The government accused Qatar-based Al-Jazeera of being biased to Morsi and his group, a charge the broadcaster denies.
Adel Fahmy says Baird is "quite immersed" in Mohamed Fahmy's situation and promised to maintain the efforts to ensure he receives a fair and expeditious trial.
Baird has discussed Fahmy's case with his Egyptian counterpart, but Canadian officials have told Fahmy's family that his dual citizenship has placed limits on how much they can do.
Fahmy's family moved to Canada in 1991.
He lived in Montreal and Vancouver for years before eventually moving abroad for work, which included covering stories for the New York Times and CNN.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014