Today there has been yet another adjournment in the trial of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa and 493 others in Cairo as Egypt continues to flout international human rights law with the continued detention of thousands who dared to peacefully protest.
On Sunday, Ibrahim celebrated his 20th birthday spending his 849th day in prison, marking almost two and a half years since his arrest in 2013 at the age of 17.
Amnesty International has declared Ibrahim Halawa a Prisoner of Conscience, based on its own eye-witness evidence that he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of. 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. The court adjournment of today’s trial while continuing to hold the defendants in pre-detention is in direct violation of Egyptian and international law,” said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.
“The continuing imprisonment of this young Irish and EU citizen is simply unacceptable. He has now been in prison for 851 days. Two days ago he turned 20, the third birthday he has spent in horrific circumstances in an Egyptian prison cell. Amnesty International remains gravely concerned for Ibrahim’s mental and physical wellbeing, and again calls for his immediate and unconditional release.”
“We understand that this latest adjournment, reportedly to Saturday December 19, is because one of the 494 defendants facing this mass trial was not in attendance. This yet again proves the gross unfairness and absurdity of this trial process. With hundreds of defendants, many of whom have been imprisoned for months or years, it is highly likely that at least one will be unable to attend court on any given day.”
“Egypt must release Ibrahim Halawa, abandon such trials and fully respect its international human rights obligations.”
Ibrahim and his sisters, Omaima, Fatima and Somaia Halawa were arrested in August 2013 while taking sanctuary in the Al Fath mosque. While Ibrahim’s sisters were released on bail and are safe in Ireland, today’s further delay means that Ibrahim has been incarcerated for more than 28 months without trial.
On Thursday 17 December, the European Parliament will discuss a resolution, supported by all Irish MEPs, calling for Ibrahim’s immediate release.
If you would like to take action calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Ibrahim Halawa, you can do so here.