Al-Jazeera Reporter in Egypt Cites Employer's

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015 Al-Jazeera reporter in Egypt cites employer’s ‘negligence’ Qatar ‘waging a media war’ against Cairo?

CAIRO: Al-Jazeera English journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who is out awaiting retrial after more than a year behind bars in Egypt on terrorism-related charges, said his Qatar- funded employer is partially to blame for his grinding ordeal. Fahmy said it would be “naive” and “misleading” to see the case purely as a crackdown on press freedom, because it was complicated by Al-Jazeera’s BENGHAZI: Libyan military soldiers fire their weapons “negligence” and Qatar’s use of the outlet to “wage a media war” against Cairo. “I am not during clashes with Islamic militias in Benghazi. — AP losing sight of who put me in prison,” he said, referring to the Egyptian prosecutors, who Finding Libya solution, a failed to present any evidence related to the daunting task for world terror charges in a trial widely condemned by rights groups and major media outlets. “However, Al-Jazeera’s epic negligence TRIPOLI: Having balked at Egypt’s call for military interven- has made our situation harder, more difficult, tion in Libya, the international community faces a daunting and gave our captor more firepower,” Fahmy task to find a political solution to the lawless North African said in an interview at his family home in a country’s crisis, analysts say. Roiled by turmoil ever since the Cairo suburb. “It is an infringement on free- NATO-backed ouster of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, dom of speech to silence three innocent, rec- Libya’s security has continued to deteriorate, prompting calls ognized journalists. Yet a very important CAIRO: Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy gives an interview in Cairo after for an easing of an arms embargo to help the internationally aspect of this case is Qatar abusing its Al- he and his colleague Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were released from recognized government regain some control. Jazeera Arabic platform in waging a media an Egyptian jail. — AFP The beheading this week of 21 mainly Egyptian Coptic war against Egypt,” he said. Al-Jazeera Christians by the Islamic State group sparked Cairo to launch spokesmen did not respond to emails seek- permits. Al-Jazeera has said that lacking press includes Amal Clooney, who has waived 90 air strikes against the jihadists in Libya and call for an interna- ing comment. The broadcaster spearheaded credentials is an administrative matter that percent of her fees, he said. tional coalition to hit IS. But Western and Arab states have a global media campaign calling for the should never have landed the reporters in Fahmy and his Egyptian producer Baher flinched at the suggestion of force, and UN envoy Bernardino release of the reporters, insisting they were criminal court. After a purely Egyptian affiliate Mohammed begin their retrial on Monday, Leon told the UN Security Council Wednesday that the only unjustly punished for doing their job. of the network was ordered closed by a court after an appeals court threw out the case that cure for Libya’s trauma was political. Claudia Gazzini of the Egypt and Qatar have had tense relations in September 2013, the network continued to opened last year and ended in sentencing the since 2013, when the Egyptian military oust- International Crisis Group said a political accord would be “dif- broadcast from its Doha studios, relying on two to seven and ten years respectively. ed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi amid amateur videos. At least 11 defendants were Australian journalist Peter Greste, who was ficult, but not impossible to achieve.” “The international com- massive protests. Doha is a strong backer of tried with Fahmy and the others allegedly for originally sentenced to seven years, was munity must stay focused on supporting the dialogue efforts Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and other providing amateur videos to the network. released and deported Feb 1. Fahmy was and resist calls to lift the arms embargo,” the analyst said. Islamist groups in the region. Cairo accused Late last year, before a retrial was ordered, Al- released on bail Feb. 12 following more than a Libya is awash with weapons and rival militias are battling Al-Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for Morsi’s Jazeera shut down its Egyptian affiliate, in year in prison. He said he is preparing for a for control of its cities and oil wealth. It has two rival govern- supporters, charges denied by the broadcast- what was seen as part of a thaw in the rela- lengthy legal battle in which his lawyers will ments and parliaments, one recognized by the international er. Fahmy maintained that Al-Jazeera English, tions between Cairo and Doha. But tensions question the main investigator in the case, who community and the other with ties to Islamists. Any additional for which he was bureau chief for just three flared again over Egypt’s recent airstrikes in accused him of being the head of a terror cell weapons could strengthen the divisive General Khalifa Haftar, months before being detained in December Libya, when an Egyptian official accused that was providing a platform for the Islamists. whose forces are fighting Islamist militias in battles that widen 2013, was doing balanced and independent Qatar of funding terror groups there. He is also going to seek deportation under the gulf between competing factions. One UN diplomat said reporting. Al Jazeera’s Arabic affiliates, how- the same new law that allowed Greste to be lifting the arms embargo would be tantamount to pouring ever, were the only remaining platform for New tiff deported and spared a retrial. Fahmy, a dual fuel on the fire. Islamists to criticize the military-backed gov- Fahmy said the new tiff will likely compli- Canadian-Egyptian citizen, was asked to give Since launching efforts at dialogue in September, Leon ernment after Morsi’s ouster. cate matters for him. “Like it or not, this case up his Egyptian nationality by Egyptian offi- has been unable to bring together leading players from rival Fahmy said his senior managers failed to is a public opinion case and the judge could cials in order to qualify for deportation. It’s camps. The UN envoy’s best achievement so far has been to provide the English network’s staff with be affected by what is happening in the polit- not clear why he was not then deported, but begin “indirect” talks last week between the internationally enough security, and to explain to the ical arena,” he said. Fahmy said he thinks Canada could have recognized government and the General National Congress, Egyptian government that they were differ- Al-Jazeera’s lawyer quit during the course pressed Cairo harder on the matter. Fahmy, which is under the leadership of the Islamist Fajr Libya mili- ent from the Arabic stations. “They should of the trial in a highly emotional scene in who turned 40 in detention, has meanwhile have provided a security umbrella and put tia currently controlling the capital Tripoli. But observers which he also accused the broadcaster of been forced to postpone his wedding. the security of their staffers ahead of getting jeopardizing its staff by choosing to sue the Without Egyptian citizenship, he must apply believe efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides will the story, because it was framed as Al-Jazeera Egyptian government for $150 million for to the Justice Ministry to marry his Egyptian fail so long as their respective armed factions-Haftar for the and Qatar are challenging the Egyptian gov- closing its offices and jamming its signal at fiancee Marwa Omara. Fahmy also has to elected government and Fajr Libya for the GNC-are not at ernment,” he said. He also said Al-Jazeera the height of the trial. Fahmy is now raising report to the local police station every day the same table. —AFP failed to provide press passes or equipment funds for his own defense team, which while the trial continues. — AP Jihadists stalking divided Libya

TRIPOLI: The main armed organizations in divided launched an eastward offensive aimed at seizing recognized government and parliament based in Brigades, as well as the jihadist Ansar Al-Sharia. Libya, which has seen the rise of jihadist move- Libya’s main oil export terminals, the source of its the east. Forced out of second city Benghazi by Ansar Al-Sharia is known to be close to Al-Qaeda ments, including the Islamic State group, as law- wealth. It advanced unchecked along the coast Islamist fighters last July, Haftar’s men withdrew and is blacklisted by the United Nations as a terror- lessness plagues the North African nation. Fajr passing through Sirte and reaching Bin Jawad, 600 farther east to cities loyal to him such Al-Baida, Al- ist organization. In addition to Benghazi, it has a Libya (Libya Dawn) A diverse and well-armed km east of Tripoli. It has a presence in Sirte, but Marj and Tobruk near the frontier with Egypt. In presence in Derna, and in Sirte and Sabratha in the alliance of militias, whose core comprises groups does not control all of the hometown of slain dicta- October Haftar launched a counter-offensive and west. Its ties with the Islamic State group are from third city Misrata (200 kilometers/125 miles tor Muammar Gaddafi which is now considered to retook large parts of Benghazi, 1,000 km east of the unclear, although several of its members are east of Tripoli). In summer 2014, Fajr Libya be a jihadist stronghold. Fajr Libya also has a pres- capital, although he still faces Islamist resistance. In reported to have defected to IS. The country’s attacked militiamen from Zintan (170 km south- ence in the south, including in its main city Sabha, the west, Haftar can count on the support of the branch of the Islamic State group has a strong pres- west of the capital) who were well established in and claims to control most of the country. powerful anti-Islamist Zintan militia and on region- ence in Derna, historically Libya’s most radical Tripoli and managed to oust them. al tribes. Zintanis say they form the core of the Islamist city. It also has forces in Sirte and the vil- The alliance also includes fighters from other Libyan National Army Libyan army. lage of Nufliyah to the south. towns and cities in the west, including members of A paramilitary force set up by renegade General It has cells in Libya’s vast southern desert, as the Berber minority and moderate Islamist militia- Khalifa Haftar, that includes former officers of Other armed groups well as in Tripoli, where it claimed a deadly attack men. It controls virtually all of Libya’s coastal cities, Gaddafi’s army in the east who defected in the The Shura Revolutionary Council in Benghazi, a on a hotel. Its Tripolitania branch posted gruesome from Misrata west to the border with Tunisia 2011 revolt. A handful of MiG-23 and MiG-21 war- coalition of Islamist and radical militias formed to video of the beheading of 21 Christians, most of through the capital, and cities to the south includ- planes and a special forces unit are the main units counter Haftar’s offensive. It has loose ties with Fajr them Copts from Egypt. Cyrenaica Force: anti- ing Gharyan, Nalut and Jado in the mainly Berber at Haftar’s disposal. It says it is battling “terrorism”, Libya and includes groups such as Libya Shield, the Islamist coalition of local tribes in eastern Libya led Nafusa mountain range. The group has also and is supported by the country’s internationally February 17 Martyrs and Rafallah Al-Sahati by Ibrahim al-Jodrane. —AFP