Former political prisoner Peter Greste is jubilant that the man he was imprisoned with in Egypt has been pardoned, saying the activist helped save his life.
But it's a bittersweet moment for the Australian journalist, who says while he's overjoyed at the presidential pardon for Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, he never should have been arrested and sentenced.
Professor Greste thanked Mr Fattah for helping him survive prison when he was struggling psychologically, saying he was one of the first people he met and was instrumental in devising a strategy for his release.
"It's absolutely wonderful news, I'm absolutely overjoyed, I think it vindicates all the work and the efforts of the people who lined up behind him," he told AAP.
"I think it's one of the most egregious cases of political imprisonment that I know, Alaa is an extraordinary human being who never should have been imprisoned in the first place."
Prof Greste was imprisoned in Egypt for 14 months a decade ago on trumped-up terrorism grounds.
Mr Fattah had been detained since 2019, one of multiple arrests and imprisonments for the dissident for his activism and criticism of the government.
He was pardoned by the Egyptian president overnight Tuesday (AEST).
Prof Greste had participated in a hunger strike alongside Mr Fattah's mother in London in January to bring attention to the case of the man who had helped him while he was imprisoned.
It was "depressing that it takes such enormous effort to get one innocent person released from prison", Prof Greste said.
"I'm just overjoyed because I know better than anyone what that feeling is like and I can't wait to speak in person," he added.
He was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 for “disseminating false news undermining national security” but his release date was pushed back until January 2027, until the pardon.
Amnesty International's Erika Guevara Rosas said the release was welcome but long overdue.
“His pardon ends a grave injustice and is a testament to the tireless efforts of his family and lawyers, including his courageous mother Laila Soueif and activists all over the world who have been relentlessly demanding his release," she said.
"We hope that his release will take place soon."
The senior director for advocacy said the pardon wouldn't erase the injustice of the past six years as she called on the Egyptian authorities to follow up on the decision and release all prisoners detained for exercising their human rights.
