Egypt urged to free al-Jazeera staff on arrest anniversary

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Greste's father Juris said he was optimistic that the New Year would see a "major turning-point".

"The first trial was full of flaws and controversy," he said.

"We believe that the only decision that the Court of Cassation can make is to overturn the original verdict. Therein will be Egypt's opportunity to demonstrate the integrity and independence of its appeals system."

The court will on Thursday begin examining whether the proper legal procedures were followed in the case of the journalists and four Egyptian students who were convicted alongside them.

It could either uphold the guilty verdict given by the court which tried them earlier this year or quash it, in which case a retrial would be ordered.

Uncertainty

Mr Fahmy's fiancee, Marwa Omara, told the BBC that she was concerned about the length and uncertainty of the appeal process.

The Court of Cassation's judges meet for a week every month, but there is no timeframe for a decision. Ms Omara said it might take up to a year to be resolved, one way or the other.

Mr Fahmy's lawyers have called on him to be released on medical grounds while the case continues. They say he had surgery in mid-November on his right arm, which he broke days before his arrest, and has not received adequate treatment for his Hepatitis C. Below is a pic of the three journalists