Today, there has been yet another adjournment in the trial of Ibrahim Halawa as Egypt continues to ignore its obligations under both Egyptian law and international human rights law. Ibrahim has now spent 1,348 days in prison. There is grave concern for Ibrahim’s physical and mental wellbeing and an application for his release on medical grounds was lodged at the last hearing in this case. At this stage, it is unclear if the court has considered the request for his release on humanitarian grounds.
Amnesty International has declared Ibrahim a Prisoner of Conscience. In recent months, Ibrahim’s innocence has been further vindicated by Egypt’s own legal system. A court-appointed Technical Committee reviewed audio-video material presented in the case, and found no evidence against him. The Committee’s report, which was ordered after almost three years of detention, does not even mention Ibrahim.
“For the twenty-second time in 44 months, Ibrahim Halawa’s trial has been postponed. Amnesty has conducted a thorough, independent review of the prosecution evidence and concluded that he was arrested solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of assembly and expression. Amnesty researchers in Cairo on the night of his arrest confirm that he was sheltering in the Al Fath mosque and could not have committed the violent acts he’s been charged with,” said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland
Ibrahim Halawa was just 17 years old when he was first detained in August 2013. He faces a mass trial alongside 493 other defendants, which cannot meet the standards required for a fair trial as defined under international human rights law.
“This young man’s ordeal has been nothing short of horrific. He was just 17 years old when he was first detained in August 2013 and has spent 1,348 nights unjustly incarcerated. Amnesty International continues to be gravely concerned for Ibrahim’s physical and mental health. We reiterate our call on the Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against him and for his immediate and unconditional release. We also urge the Irish Government to continue working on his behalf and to use every means at their disposal to secure his release,” said Colm O’Gorman.
Ibrahim’s trial has been rescheduled for 9th May 2017.
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