The case of jailed Australian journalist Peter Greste is "under consideration" by high levels of the Egyptian government, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says.
Ms Bishop is hopeful and optimistic he could be released before his appeal on January 1.
"I urged (the Egyptian foreign minister) to consider releasing Peter Greste for Christmas, we wanted him out and home as soon as possible," she told the Seven Network.
"We've got our fingers crossed, we don't know whether we have secured this yet. His appeal ... is listed for the first of January so it would be very exciting if there were some steps taken before then."
Greste was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in June last year, along with two colleagues working for Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, after being convicted of broadcasting false news and aiding a terrorist organisation.
The trio is appealing against the convictions on the grounds of flawed evidence.
Greste has been in custody since December 29 last year, and it was revealed on Tuesday that he had written a letter to his supporters as the anniversary looms.
In the letter, Greste says he feels proud and strengthened by all that has been achieved so far in galvanising political debate about the right to free press, the persecution of journalists and justice in Egypt.
"We have galvanised an incredible coalition of political, diplomatic and media figures, as well as a vast army of social media supporters for that most basic of rights - the right to know," Greste writes.
"Everyone, from US President Barack Obama to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, has been speaking out both publicly and in private to demand our release and call for a free press in Egypt."
Share
