Halawa trial delay is a travesty of justice - Costello

8 February 2015

by Cllr Joe Costello

The decision by the Egyptian Authorities to postpone the trial of Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa, for the fourth time is a travesty of justice.  It is eighteen months since Ibrahim a seventeen-year-old student was arrested during a political protest in Cairo in August 2013.  He has been detained in prison since. 

Justice delayed is justice denied.  Moreover, he is being charged with 494 others as part of a mass trial.  Clearly such a trial is contrary to all principles of jurisprudence.  Amnesty International and other human rights bodies have condemned the mass trial and declared Ibrahim Halawa a prisoner of conscience. 

 The Irish Government has worked strenuously on behalf of Ibrahim.  With the new setback of a further delay, we must redouble our efforts and work with our EU colleagues to urge the Egyptian authorities to release Ibrahim Halawa and allow him to return to Ireland and to his family.