CONCERN is mounting for the welfare of Irish teenager Ibrahim Halawa who is facing into his third year in detention in an Egyptian prison.
Last week Halawa and 493 defendants were told that their trial has been delayed for the tenth time with the next court date put back to October 4, 2015.
Amnesty International has described the further adjournment of the trial as an indictment of the Egyptian justice system.
Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, said:
“It is becoming increasingly clear that there is no due process in Egypt as it continues to flout international human rights law.
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Meanwhile, the teen’s family, who live in Firhouse, urged the Government to work with Ibrahim’s lawyer Darragh Mackin on the case to help return Ibrahim home as soon as possible.
“Ibrahim already is mentally destroyed and is gradually being physically destroyed,
? the family said in a statement.
“On August 17, 2015 Ibrahim would have completed two years in prison, two years of a minor’s life taken off him while being oppressed, and abandoned just for expressing his freedom of speech.
“We hope our Government does not wait till Ibrahim’s life is over to intervene.
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The family also paid tribute to Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan and Senator Mark Daly who, they said, had done
“their ultimate best to make a difference in Ibrahim’s case
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“Darragh and Lynn stood in the heat of 44 degrees just because of humanity,
? they added.
“Although they were unable to attend the hearing they witnessed the mockery of the judiciary system of Egypt and how family members were not allowed to enter the hearing.
“They did not give up and did their best to see Ibrahim the next day and put a smile on his face which never existed to Ibrahim since he was moved to this prison.
“Ibrahim, for the first time in almost two years, was able to physically hug his sister without a wired barrier between them.
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Speaking at a press conference, which was also attended by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams last week, Ms Boylan said:
“When we visited Ibrahim last Monday, despite his spirits rising considerably on seeing his sister, his health is not good.
“He needs to see a specialist doctor as a matter of urgency.
“There is also a pressing need for an Irish ambassador to be appointed to Egypt as soon as possible to ensure that cases like Ibrahim’s receive as much support as possible.
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Ms Boylan revealed how Ibrahim is convinced the publicity campaign for his release, spearheaded by his family and friends here in Dublin, is paramount to ensuring his safety in the Egyptian prison.
“We desperately need clarity surrounding the severity of the charges Ibrahim is facing,
? she stated.
“We need an unequivocal reason as to why bail has been refused so many times.
“I will be sending a report to and I am available to brief the Minister’s department, the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee and the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini directly on my experience to see if there is anything I can offer to help with Ibrahim’s case.
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Ms Boylan added:
“It’s time to bring Ibrahim home before he commences his third year of detention without trial.
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Mr O’Gorman has previously stated that Amnesty International had declared Ibrahim Halawa a Prisoner of Conscience.
This is based, he states, on eye-witness evidence that Ibrahim could not have carried out the acts that he has been accused of.
He also warned that it was becoming increasingly clear that there was no due process in Egypt.
“In this system, there is no justice and there are no human rights,
? he said.
“The international community cannot allow the rule of law to be so abused as Egypt has now become an all-out repressive state engaged in a systemic crackdown of any opposition. This cannot be allowed to continue.
“He is being detained solely for peacefully expressing his right to freedom of expression and assembly.
“Ibrahim and his family’s appalling ordeal must end and he should be immediately and unconditionally released and allowed to return home to Ireland.
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