Imprisoned teen’s family stage protest in Dublin

THE family of Ibrahim Halawa who staged a protest in Dublin recently have demanded his immediate release from an Egyptian prison.

The 19-year-old was arrested during a protest in Ramsis when at least 97 people died in August 2013.

Ibrahim and his sisters Somaia, Fatima and Omaima, who live in Firhouse, were arrested while attending a march against the ousting of former president Mohammed Morsi.

The sisters were allowed return to Dublin after three months.

Ibrahim’s sisters were joined by politicians and supporters at the protest to raise awareness of his plight.

Somaia Halawa said:

“Ibrahim has been detained in prison in Egypt for two years without a trial for taking part in a peaceful protest.

“No evidence has been provided to show that Ibrahim was ever involved in any illegal activity and instead he has been arrested for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

“It is impossible for him to get a fair trial,

? she added.

“Ibrahim has been repeatedly denied access to his lawyer and denied the right to a proper court hearing.

“We are asking the Minister for Foreign Affairs to intervene to demand that he is immediately released as other countries have done for their citizens rather than just repeat his calls for a fair trial, as this is impossible.

?

A spokesperson for Minister Flanagan had previously told Southside People that officials, including Ireland’s Ambassador to Egypt, Isolde Moylan, had visited Ibrahim on numerous ocasions.

The spokesperson also pointed out that Minister Flanagan had raised the case

“numerous times

? with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.