Ireland

Call for Irish government to do more to secure Ibrahim Halawa's release

Ibrahim Halawa has been in an Egyptian jail since 2013
Ibrahim Halawa has been in an Egyptian jail since 2013 Ibrahim Halawa has been in an Egyptian jail since 2013

THE family of an Irishman held in an Egyptian jail for almost four years has called on the Republic's government to do more to secure his release.

Dubliner Ibrahim Halawa’s trial was adjourned for the 20th time this week.

He was arrested during a siege at a Cairo mosque in 2013.

His family has now asked the Irish government to consider taking legal action against Egypt at the International Court of Justice.

Mr Halawa has recently been on hunger strike and is confined to a wheelchair.

His sister Somaia last night said: “The sad reality is my brother is dying in an Egyptian prison, facing a mass trial, which at this rate will take over 10 years.”

His Belfast-based solicitor Darragh Mackin said: “It is inarguably clear that the current trial process does not meet the standards required by international law.

“It is now a time for a line to be drawn in the sand, and action to be taken by the Irish government against the Egyptian state for what are flagrant breaches of international law.”