Al-Jazeera producer hopeful he will be exonerated in Egypt retrial

Al-Jazeera English journalist Baher Mohammed kisses his 6 month-old son Haroon, who was born while he was in prison, during an interview with the Associated Press at his home in 6 October city, a suburb southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Mohammed, one of three Al-Jazeera English journalists released after over a year in Egyptian prison says he is optimistic he would be exonerated from terrorism-related charges during his retrial which begins next week. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

Al-Jazeera English journalist Baher Mohammed, who was recently released from prison along with two colleagues, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his home in 6 October city, a suburb southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Mohammed, one of three Al-Jazeera English journalists released after over a year in Egyptian prison says he is optimistic he would be exonerated from terrorism-related charges during his retrial which begins next week. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

Al-Jazeera English journalist Baher Mohammed holds his 6 month-old son Haroon, who was born while he was in prison, during an interview with the Associated Press at his home in 6 October city, a suburb southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Mohammed, one of three Al-Jazeera English journalists released after over a year in Egyptian prison says he is optimistic he would be exonerated from terrorism-related charges during his retrial which begins next week. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

An Al-Jazeera English journalist released after over a year in Egyptian prisons says he is optimistic he will be exonerated from terrorism-related charges during his retrial, which begins next week.

Baher Mohammed was initially sentenced to 10 years before an appeals court overturned the ruling and ordered a retrial for him and colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste. Greste, an Australian, was deported home on Feb. 1. Mohammed and Fahmy were released Friday pending a retrial.

Mohammed told The Associated Press Tuesday he learned to minimize his expectations during the course of the first trial, described as a sham by rights groups. However, he was still hopeful that the new judges would free him based on the appeals court finding that evidence was flawed.