Today, Ibrahim Halawa learned that there has been yet another adjournment in his mass trial. Ibrahim has now spent 28 months in prison as Egypt continues to ignore its obligations under both Egyptian and international human rights law.
Ibrahim Halawa, who faces a possible death penalty, was a minor when he was first arrested in August 2013. He is a Prisoner of Conscience arrested solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Based on Amnesty’s own eye-witness evidence, he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of.
“Today’s delay further prolongs this horrific ordeal for Ibrahim and his family. He has been arbitrarily detained for more than 28 months without trial, living in harrowing conditions in an Egyptian prison cell. Ibrahim’s only ‘crime’ was attending a peaceful protest and his continuing imprisonment is an inexcusable violation of both international and Egyptian law.
“At the time of his arrest, Ibrahim was shot in the hand when security forces stormed the Al Fath mosque where he and his sisters had sought refuge from the violence. Ibrahim has never received proper medical treatment for this injury. Tonight as Ibrahim spends his 885th night in prison, Amnesty International remains gravely concerned for his physical and mental wellbeing.
It is time for Ibrahim, and his family’s, harrowing experience to end. Amnesty International reiterates our call for his immediate and unconditional release. We urge the Irish Government to continue their work on his behalf and to use every means at their disposal to secure his release,” said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.
On 17 December, the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported – by a 98 per cent majority, including all Irish MEPs- a Joint Resolution expressing its “deep concern about the unacceptable breach of basic human rights arising from the arbitrary detention of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa”. The resolution also called for his immediate and unconditional release. The trial has been rescheduled for 6 March 2016.