Mounting pressure on State to help Ibrahim Halawa

Pressure is mounting on the Government to ramp up diplomatic efforts to help Ibrahim Halawa, the Irish citizen who has been in prison in Egypt since 2013, and who turns 21 today.

As one of Ibrahim’s sisters, Somaia, joined a vigil outside Cork City Hall last night, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Des Cahill, accepted that the State has failed Ibrahim.

He confirmed he has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny urging him, and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, to do more in relation to this case.

“As a state we should be protecting the rights of our citizens at home and abroad,” Mr Cahill said. “I truly hope that we can use our diplomatic powers to have him afforded a fair trial, hopefully a successful end to that, and a speedy return home.

“What is unjust and unfair on this Irish citizen is that he facing a mass trial alongside 493 other defendants.

“This is an unfair administration of justice and it is almost impossible for his lawyers to mount an individual defense on his behalf.”

Somaia thanked the council for their support: “I am here to tell the councillors to continue their support and to write to Enda Kenny to add the pressure, and to ask him to do all he can to speed up the process.”