Brisbane man held in an Egyptian prison for a year finally leaves country

A Brisbane man jailed in Egypt for more than one year without charge has boarded a plane to return to Australia.

Hazem Hamouda, a 55-year-old Australian citizen, was detained shortly after landing at Cairo International Airport on January 25, 2018, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 revolt.

Hazem Hamouda with his daughter Saja when he was released from police custody.

The Kuraby man was travelling to Egypt to join his children on a short holiday.

Mr Hamouda's family said he had no history of political activism in Egypt but believed his activity on Facebook in Australia, which in the past included material sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, could be the cause of his arrest.

His lawyers secured his release from the notorious Tora prison in Cairo last month, but his departure was prevented by passport control officers.

However, overnight, Mr Hamouda has finally been allowed to leave Egypt.

He was accompanied by the Australian ambassador to Egypt Glenn Miles through the Cairo airport.

Mr Hamouda's daughter Lamisse said the family was relieved he was finally on his way home safely.

"All we want now is time to recover with Dad, and make sure that his re-entry is as easy as possible," she said.

Ms Lamisse praised the family's pro bono legal team, including barrister Jennifer Robinson, who has defended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and said the Australian government's support was critical to her father's return.

In a joint statement, barristers Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Ms Robinson said the news marked the end to a horrific 433 day ordeal for the Hamouda family.

"A family holiday which became a living nightmare," they said.

"Throughout that time, Hazem and his family have tirelessly fought for his freedom and for his safe return home to Brisbane.

"It is testament to their dedication that Hazem is now safely away from Egypt.

"However, we must remember that there are many more men and women still imprisoned in Egypt or banned from leaving Egypt based on spurious charges and often simply for peacefully expressing their opinions of President al-Sisi's regime."

More than 20,000 people had signed an online petition to bring Mr Hamouda home.

At the weekend, Mr Hamouda faced a military court for an exemption certificate from conscription and secured the relevant documents to leave the country.

Journalist Peter Greste has previously called on the Australian government to do more to secure Mr Hamouda's freedom.

Mr Greste, who was himself imprisoned in Tora prison after being accused of news reporting that was "damaging to national security", said he had an ambassador with him all the way through the airport, which he believed was crucial.

"He's been through hell and he needs help to get out of Egypt and back home to Australia and to his family," he said.

Mr Hamouda was born in Cairo and was serving in the Egyptian Navy when he met his Australian wife in 1987.

He has lived in Australia since and became a citizen in 1993.