Amal Clooney calls on Egypt to release jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy

Amal Clooney, the acclaimed human rights lawyer who recently married actor George Clooney, has called on the Egyptian government to release jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy.

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Fahmy, a Canadian-Egyptian dual citizen, is currently serving a 7-year sentence for terrorism. He was arrested with two fellow Al Jazeera English journalists on Dec. 29.

In a statement issued Thursday from her London-based firm, Clooney revealed that Fahmy is suffering from a potentially fatal case of Hepatitis C and his "detention has become a great danger to his health."

Clooney also appealed for a compassionate release on health grounds to allow Fahmy to seek treatment for a permanent injury to his right shoulder that requires "a series of complicated correctional bone surgeries" that are "not readily available in prison."

'Not a shred of evidence'

The trio of Al Jazeera journalists was accused of supporting the banned Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group of ousted president Mohammed Morsi. They were also charged with fabricating footage to undermine Egypt's national security.

​Clooney's statement described Fahmy's trial as "fundamentally unfair" and his imprisonment "a travesty of justice." 

She also argued that there was "not shred of evidence to show that Mr. Fahmy had any affiliation with [the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group] whatsoever."

"He is serving a 7-year prison sentence for simply reporting the news," she entreated.

Clooney also appealed to Egypt's supreme court to overturn Fahmy's conviction and release him when it hears his appeal on Jan. 1.

• Amal Clooney in Greece for potential legal bid on Parthenon Marbles

An accomplished human rights lawyer, Clooney has defended Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the past. She is currently part of a legal team advising the Greek government in its bid to have the Parthenon Marbles returned from Britain.