The family of an Egyptian-Canadian journalist convicted on terrorism-related charges by a Cairo court says the 40-year-old is in a “terrible state of mind.”

The conviction of Mohamed Fahmy and two colleagues has been denounced as a blow to freedom of expression ever since it was delivered last week.

Fahmy was working for Qatar-based satellite news broadcaster Al-Jazeera English when he was arrested along with the other journalists on Dec. 29. He was sentenced to seven years.

Fahmy’s brother says his family has been shattered by the verdict but is continuing to fight for the journalist’s release on every level.

They are taking the case to an appeal court, pursuing a presidential pardon and are hoping international pressure might result in an exceptional overturning of the conviction.

But they say Fahmy is demoralized and doesn’t want to put much hope into any of those efforts just yet.

They say he is now focusing on trying to start studying for a degree in international diplomacy during his time behind bars.