The parents of jailed Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste have made a direct appeal to Egypt’s president for his release by Christmas.
In a news conference in Brisbane they said they welcomed news that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was considering granting a pardon to Mr Greste.
He is one of three Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt in June on charges including spreading false news.
They deny the charges and have appealed against their seven-year sentences.
On Thursday, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said he is considering the possibility of granting pardons to the two foreign Al-Jazeera journalists.
In an interview with French broadcaster France 24 he said “the matter is being discussed to solve the issue”.
‘’We welcome the announcement. It does fill us with a lot of hope," Mr Greste’s father Juris Greste said during the news conference on Friday.
However he went on to point out that they had cause for hope before but that “those expectations ended up in bitter disappointment”.
“Dear Mr President al-Sisi we realise that the decision to free Peter isn’t entirely in your hands alone, but please please see to it that Peter is back with his family before Christmas,” Juris Greste said.
