Amnesty International reiterates call for his immediate & unconditional release
Today, there has been yet another adjournment in the trial of Irish man Ibrahim Halawa in Cairo as Egypt continues to ignore its obligations under both Egyptian and international human rights law. Ibrahim, who faces a possible death penalty, was a minor when he was first arrested in August 2013. He has spent 1182 days in prison. 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. He was arrested and arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
“Today’s delay, the sixteenth, further prolongs Ibrahim’s horrific ordeal. He has been imprisoned for 1182 days living in truly horrific conditions in an Egyptian prison cell, without access to proper medical care. In recent years, both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have detailed the horrific use of torture by the Egyptian security forces and in Egyptian prisons. Letters from Ibrahim catalogues a series of grave human rights abuses which we must take seriously,” said Fiona Crowley, Research and Legal Manager with Amnesty International Ireland.
Ibrahim Halawa was just 17 when he was first 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, Ibrahim has been incarcerated for 39 months without trial.
“The continuing imprisonment of this young Irish citizen is a violation of both international and Egyptian law. Ibrahim is one of 494 defendants facing a grossly unfair mass trial which makes it almost impossible for his lawyers to mount a meaningful defence. Amnesty International remains gravely concerned for his physical and mental wellbeing. We reiterate our call for his immediate and unconditional release and urge the Irish Government to continue their work on his behalf and to use every means at their disposal to secure his release,” said Fiona Crowley.
His trial has been rescheduled for December 13th.
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