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Ibrahim Halawa trial is adjourned for the 24th time

The mass trial of Irish man Ibrahim Halawa has been adjourned in Egypt for the 24th time. He has ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.47 17 May 2017


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Ibrahim Halawa trial is adjour...

Ibrahim Halawa trial is adjourned for the 24th time

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.47 17 May 2017


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The mass trial of Irish man Ibrahim Halawa has been adjourned in Egypt for the 24th time.

He has now spent 45 months in prison.

He has been held since his arrest during demonstrations against the ousting of president Mohammed Morsi in August 2013.

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Amnesty International has declared Ibrahim a Prisoner of Conscience.

It says this is based on its own eye-witness evidence that he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of.

The latest hearing went ahead but witnesses who were called reporedly failed to appear.

The court agreed on a list of 18 witnesses to be called at the next hearing, which is scheduled for July 4th 2017.

Officials from the Irish embassy in Cairo were in court for the hearing.

Protests outside the Egyptian embassy in Dublin | Image: Facebook/Free Ibrahim Halawa

Following the hearing, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "I was disappointed to note that a number of witnesses who had failed to appear and give evidence at last week's hearing once again failed to appear in the court today.

"However, I note that, in line with the presiding judge's decision to take steps to speed up the trial process, lawyers submitted today a list of 18 priority witnesses who will be called for the next hearing.

"Our understanding is that no further witnesses beyond this list of 18 will be called by the prosecution side."

Egypt's President el-Sisi has indicated that he will exercise his presidential powers to return Mr Halawa to Ireland following a verdict.

Amnesty has hosted a public demonstration to highlight Ibrahim's case and call on the Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against him.

 The demonstration which was held Wednesday afternoon outside the Egyptian embassy in Dublin, and included representatives from Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), SIPTU, UpLift and members of the Halawa family.

Protests outside the Egyptian embassy in Dublin | Image: Facebook/Free Ibrahim Halawa

"It is not envisaged that any further witnesses will be called by the prosecution when their testimony is completed", Amnesty says.

Colm O'Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, says: "Ibrahim Halawa's trial has been adjourned 24 times since he was first detained in August 2013.

"He has now spent 1,357 days imprisoned in Egypt. Amnesty International has 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."


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