Amnesty International echoes Taoiseach’s call for his immediate release following independent medical assessment
Today, Ibrahim Halawa learned that there has been yet another adjournment in his mass trial. Ibrahim has now spent 44 months in prison as Egypt continues to disregard its obligations under both Egyptian and international human rights law. Amnesty International has declared Ibrahim a Prisoner of Conscience, based on its own eye-witness evidence that he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of. 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.
“It is beyond farcical that Ibrahim Halawa has now endured 21 delays in his trial, spending 1,327 days imprisoned in Egypt. Amnesty researchers on the ground at the time of his arrest confirm that Ibrahim was sheltering in the al-Fath mosque and could not have committed the violent crimes he has been charged with. Amnesty also conducted a thorough, independent review of the prosecution evidence and concluded that Ibrahim was arrested solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of assembly and expression. His ongoing detention represents an inexcusable violation of both international and Egyptian law,” said Fiona Crowley, Research and Legal Manager with 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.
“Amnesty International continues to be concerned for Ibrahim’s mental and physical wellbeing. We welcome Ireland’s sending its own doctor to independently ascertain his health status. It is significant that this independent doctor has recommended that he be returned to Ireland for further examination. We echo the Taoiseach’s call for Ibrahim to be released as a matter of urgency to receive healthcare in Ireland. We also reiterate our call on the Egyptian authorities that they drop all charges against Ibrahim and order his immediate and unconditional release. We urge the Irish Government to continue working on his behalf and to use every means at its disposal to secure his release,” said Fiona Crowley.
Ibrahim’s trial has been rescheduled for 26 April 2017.
Call the Egyptian embassy and demand Ibrahim’s release:
Take action now