'Dad’s on his way’: Brisbane man freed from Egypt prison after year without charge

Egyptian-Australian Hazem Hamouda is on his way back to Australia after he was detained without charge, but his family wants to make sure his entry back in is as smooth as possible.

Hazem Hamouda and his wife in Brisbane 2017. Source: Supplied

Brisbane man Hazem Hamouda will finally return to Australia, after he was detained in an Egyptian prison for 433 days without charge, his family has confirmed. 

“We are so relieved that Dad is finally on his way home safely,” daughter Lamisse Hamouda said. 

Mr Hamouda was first detained in January 2018, when he arrived at Cairo airport for a holiday with his family.

Hazem Hamouda with his four daughters Lamisse, Jasmine, Saja and Amira. Source: Supplied

Just minutes after touching down, the father of six was taken away by Egyptian security and accused of associating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading false information via Facebook - claims denied by his family.

He spent the next year locked in a cell with 13 other men.

The Egyptian-Australian's legal team had secured his release from one of Egypt’s most notorious prisons in Cairo, more than three weeks ago, but his departure from Egypt had been prevented by Egyptian authorities.

عائلة حازم حمودة خلال احتفالهم بالكريسماس عام 2018 Source: Supplied

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