Egyptian mandate could return Al Jazeera journalists to home countries

CAIRO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday issued a decree allowing him to extradite foreigners on trial or in prison to their home countries.

Foreigners sent back home under the decree would have to go on trial or serve their prison sentences there.

Under the new mandate it's possible two Al Jazeera journalists could be returned to their home countries.

Three journalists with the news agency -- Australian correspondent Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed -- were sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of tailoring their news reports to support the Muslim Brotherhood.

Following the sentencing in June, al-Sisi said he would have preferred the foreign journalists be deported to their home countries but he would not interfere with the judicial process.

Now it's possible the president could return Greste and Fahmy to Australia and Canada, respectively.

"When required by the state's supreme interests, the President may extradite (foreign) defendants, whether convicted or standing trial, to their countries to either be tried or serve their sentences, upon the request of the public prosecutor," the decree read.

"This law was issued to uphold the interest of the state and to maintain the international image of Egypt," presidential spokesman Alaa Yousef said.