"There are extradition treaties in Germany, France, Switzerland, most of the African Union states, most of the Arab states, across the Middle East and a not insignificant chunk of countries in Asia and Latin America and so it kind of limits the world a little too much to realistically continue as a foreign correspondent." Canadian Al-Jazeera English journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo in February Credit:AP The court has several options, legal experts say. It could find the men guilty but release them with time served. It could impose a similar sentence as the last judge (seven years for Greste and Fahmy and 10 for Mohamed) and it could also impose a fine on al-Jazeera English for its licence violations. "If I am convicted and sentenced to a longer prison sentence then it is highly likely that my career is finished," Mr Greste says. But the situation facing Mr Mohamed and Mr Fahmy, who are out of jail on bail in Cairo, is far more worrying, he is quick to point out from the safety of his Brisbane home.

"What happens to me is a minor irritation compared with whatever Baher and Fahmy will have to go through if they end up with a custodial sentence." Al-Jazeera English producer Baher Mohamed, left, Canadian-Egyptian Acting Cairo Bureau Chief Mohamed Fahmy, centre, and correspondent Peter Greste, right, face court in Cairo in 2014. The Qatari channel's reporting has been a major source of tension between Doha and its Arab neighbours. Credit:AP For Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed, who have attended all the retrial hearings in Cairo, there is the sense that this trial considered the evidence much more carefully than the first one, which was widely condemned by legal experts and press freedom groups. "There is definitely much more optimism this time around, in the sense that the charges related to fabrication of reports have been pretty much debunked by the new technical committee, who submitted their report to the judge stating that none of the reports had been fabricated," Mr Fahmy told Fairfax Media. Journalist Peter Greste with his parents Lois and Juris Greste in March this year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"In terms of the terrorism charges, all the lawyers are hopeful that the judge understood this time around that we didn't cooperate directly with the Muslim Brotherhood or have any sort of agenda as journalists doing their job." Al-Jazeera English's decision to continue broadcasting in Egypt without being licensed haunts Mr Fahmy. "We should not be paying the price for the network's negligence in providing the proper documentation to operate in Egypt," he says. For Mr Mohamed, whose third child was born while he was in prison, the time he has been able to spend getting to know his new son has been precious. "I don't want to leave him again, I don't want to miss a thing … I want to be an optimist but I know anything can happen."

The three journalists campaigned tirelessly for media freedom during their time in prison and since their release, as have their families who have travelled the world to raise awareness about journalism and democracy. They were among at least 18 journalists imprisoned in Egypt, along with an estimated 16,000 political prisoners including activists, students, unionists, academics and lawyers, although human rights groups warn that the figure could be as high as 40,000. All have vehemently protested their innocence and say they were simply doing their jobs as journalists. Egyptian justice 2013

June 30: Mass public protests across Egypt call for the resignation of the Muslim Brotherhood-backed President Mohamed Mursi, who was democratically elected in July 2012.



July 3: The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, forces Dr Mursi to stand down, arresting him and taking him to an undisclosed location. He is now facing charges that attract the death penalty.



July 3: The offices of al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr, the local Egyptian channel, are raided by Egyptian security police.



August 14: After weeks of mass protests and demonstrations from supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Dr Mursi, the Egyptian Army forcibly disperses a protest camp at Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque. More than 1000 people are killed and many more arrested.



August 14: A state of emergency is declared across Egypt, with a strict night-time curfew enforced.



August-October: A series of senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders are arrested. Thousands of protesters rounded up on the streets.



November 13: The government declares an end to the state of emergency.



December 25: The interim, military-backed Egyptian government declares the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.



December 29: Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed are arrested in a raid on their offices in the Marriott Hotel in Cairo.



2014



January 29: The three journalists, along with 17 others, are formally charged with colluding with the Muslim Brotherhood to produce false news to smear Egypt's reputation internationally.



February 21: First hearing - the journalists are denied bail, kept in their 3-by-4 metre cell in Tora Prison 23 hours a day.



There have been 12 court sessions since.



June 23: Verdict announced. Greste and Fahmy sentenced to seven years in prison, Mohamed receives a 10-year sentence.



2015



January 1: An appeal in Egypt's Court of Cassation orders a retrial but does not grant the journalists bail.



January 2: Facing a retrial and with no guarantee of bail, Greste and Fahmy formally apply to be deported via presidential decree.



February 2: Greste is deported from Egypt.



February 4: Arrives in Brisbane to a hero's welcome.



February 13: Fahmy released from prison on bail pending a retrial.



February 14: Mohamed is released on similar conditions.



March: Retrial begins in the court at Tora Prison.



At least eight other court sessions follow.



July 30: Verdict in retrial.