New hope for jailed Ibrahim

AMNESTY International has “tentatively welcomed” reports that Ibrahim Halawa, from Firhouse, will be released following completion of his trial.

According to the group, Egyptian President el-Sisi confirmed that Ibrahim would be released after a cross-party Oireactas delegation visited him in prison in Cairo.

Amnesty International, which has declared Ibrahim a Prisoner of Conscience, stated: “Ibrahim has spent almost three and a half years in prison in clear violation of his human rights, and in breach of international and Egyptian law.

“He should be immediately and unconditionally released. Though this news is welcome, it is dependent on the completion of his mass trial which does not meet fair trial standards required under international law.

“Though this report might appear encouraging, Ibrahim’s return to Ireland is dependent upon the completion of an unfair judicial process which shows no sign of coming to a conclusion.”

Since his arrest in August 2013, Amnesty International have been calling for Ibrahim’s release. 

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin (SF), who visited Ibrahim in jail last week, said that the Egyptian President Abdul el Sissi was “left in no doubt” following a meeting that “the entire membership of the Dáil and the people we represent want Ibrahim Halawa returned home.”

“During the second day of the cross-party delegation to Cairo we met with the EU external action service, members of the Egyptian parliament, senior army generals and the President of Egypt,” Deputy Ó Broin said. “At every meeting, we highlighted our concern for the ongoing imprisonment without trial of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa.

“The most important engagement was our 50-minute meeting with President Abdul el-Sissi. The delegation urged the President to use his powers under Presidential Decree 140 to intervene now to secure the release and return to Ireland of Ibrahim.

“If he was unwilling to do this, we urged him to ensure that Ibrahim would be on the Youth Amnesty list which we understand is currently being compiled.

“President el-Sissi said that while he was not willing to intervene before the trial concluded, at that stage he would ensure Ibrahim’s safe and speedy return to Ireland.

“Ireland has long standing political, economic and cultural ties with Egypt,” Deputy Ó Broin dded. “However, the continued imprisonment of Ibrahim Halawa is clearly an obstacle to the future development of these mutually beneficial links.

“At all of our meetings our Egyptian counterparts indicated that they now understood the importance of this issue to us. Hopefully the signal that our cross-party delegation has sent to all sections of the Egyptian political system, and in particular to President el-Sissi, will securing the speedy return of Ibrahim to his family.”