The Egyptian president on Wednesday pardoned two journalists for Al-Jazeera English, state media and the lawyer of one of the reporters said, a dramatic development in a case that was widely condemned by human rights groups and international organizations.

The two — Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohammed — were expected to be released later in the day, along with dozens of human rights activists.

They were among a group of 100 people pardoned by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on the eve of the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The pardon also comes a day before el-Sissi is to travel to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Fahmy's wife Marwa Omara said she learned of the news from a TV set that was on at the prison while she was visiting her husband.

"I was scared for his health from too much joy," she said, adding that the first thing they plan to do is have a large wedding party to celebrate their recent marriage.

The state-run MENA news agency said a third person from the Al-Jazeera case — which included multiple other defendants along with Australian journalist Peter Greste — was also pardoned but was not identified by name. Greste was deported earlier this year and could not immediately be reached for comment.

A tweet from Fahmy's account on Wednesday afternoon said: "Thank you to all the supporters sending us the news, we have heard and are very happy. AJ Staff is Free!"

"I don't know what to say. It is done. Thank God, thank God," said Fahmy's brother Adel, reached by The Associated Press by phone from Kuwait.

The three were sentenced to three years in prison last month for airing what a court described as "false news" and biased coverage.

Al-Jazeera did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP.