On Wednesday, September 23, on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, a presidential spokesman announced that President Al-Sisi has issued a decree pardoning two of the three Al Jazeera English journalists re-convicted last month and sentenced to three years of imprisonment: Canadian (formerly Egyptian-Canadian) Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed. But, apparently not previously deported Australian Peter Greste. 

In the aftermath of the re-convictions on Saturday of the three Al-Jazeera English defendants—Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed, and Peter Greste—there are three viable legal paths forward: appeal, deportation, and presidential pardon. Not all paths are open to all three men, and each path has its advantages and disadvantages. Will President Al-Sisi defuse the situation with a pardon?