‘I’ve dreamed of this for 400 days’: Peter Greste
Journalist Peter Greste has arrived in Australia and been reunited with his family after 400 days in a Cairo jail.
Mr Greste was greeted by dozens of supporters at Brisbane airport in the early hours of Thursday morning, and said he was “ecstatic” to be home.
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The Al Jazeera journalist was arrested in 2013 with colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed and sentenced to seven years in prison for aiding the Muslim Brotherhood.
“I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to be here this is a moment,” Mr Greste said.
“This is a moment that I’ve rehearsed in my mind over the last 400 days and it feels absolutely awesome to be here,”
“I didn’t think I’d see this day. I imagined it many, many times – about 400 times in fact.”
Father Juris Greste, who along with wife Louis fought for his son’s release, said seeing his son return was like “holding him for the first time”.
The 49-year-old said while it was “awesome” to be home with his family, his thoughts were with his colleagues who remain in prison.
“If it’s right for me to be free, then it’s right for all of us.”
He said it was an opportunity for Egypt to show that justice “doesn’t depend on your nationality”.
Mr Greste was released under a presidential decree issued by president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi which allows foreign prisoners to be released and deported.
There are reports Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy could be released in the coming weeks, but the fate of Egyptian Baher Mohamed remains unclear.
Peter Greste has arrived back in Brisbane. pic.twitter.com/HURNnfgF94
— Patrick Kingsley (@PatrickKingsley) February 4, 2015
Around 100 journalists and well-wishers gathered at arrivals, waiting for Peter Greste. pic.twitter.com/wdQMQptmc2
— Patrick Kingsley (@PatrickKingsley) February 4, 2015
Peter Greste enters arrivals, arms in the air, to huge cheers. pic.twitter.com/wesRdMMaRw — Patrick Kingsley (@PatrickKingsley) February 4, 2015
Supported waiting for @PeterGreste to arrive – not long now @abcnews @ABCNews24 #FreeAJStaff #PeterGreste pic.twitter.com/nTt1BFOGQq — Kathy McLeish (@kathymcleish1) February 4, 2015
An overjoyed #PeterGreste lands in Brisbane Australia. pic.twitter.com/KDrA2XR150
— andrew harding (@BBCAndrewH) February 4, 2015
