5 Feb 2015

Peter Greste arrives home

11:17 am on 5 February 2015

Australian journalist Peter Greste has arrived back in Australia saying he is ecstatic to be home, but has again called for his colleagues still being held in Egypt to be freed.

Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste is warmly greeted by friends, family and media at Brisbane airport on February 5, 2015.

Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste is warmly greeted by friends, family and media at Brisbane airport on February 5, 2015. Photo: AFP

The Al-Jazeera reporter, who spent over a year in an Egyptian prison on charges of helping a terrorist organisation, was deported last weekend and spent several days in Cyprus.

Mr Greste's flight from Cyprus touched down in Brisbane overnight and he walked out of the arrivals hall smiling, flanked by family members.

"My family have been the bedrock throughout all of this. My family have been absolutely awesome. I couldn't have done this without them," Mr Greste said.

"You guys wouldn't be here without my family. All I have done is sit in the cell and write a couple of letters, they've been the ones to drive this. And to be back with them, to celebrate this with them, has meant the world."

Mr Greste said he had been dreaming of this moment.

"This is a moment I have rehearsed in my mind at least 400 times over the past well, 400 days.

"And it feels absolutely awesome to be here. But of course this is all tampered, and I'm going to say it a million times, this is tampered by a real worry for my colleagues. For Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed."

Mr Fahmy would be giving up his Egyptian citizenship so he could also be deported.

Mr Greste said he was particularly worried about Mr Mohamed.

Mr Mohamed's wife Jihan Rashed said it was difficult living with uncertainty.

"Peter has been released. Mohamed Fahmy has given up his Egyptian citizenship. But what is my husband supposed to give up?

"He has been in jail for over a year. Is it not the highest price enough? What do they want us to do? My children are suffering," Ms Rashed said.