Family of Ibrahim Halawa to raise case in European Parliament

The family of Irish teenager Ibrahim Halawa, who was jailed two years ago over political protests in Egypt, are to raise his case with European Parliament members on Tuesday.

Mr Halawa was 17 when he was detained while taking refuge in a mosque near Cairo’s Ramses Square as the Muslim Brotherhood held a “day of rage” over the removal of their elected president Mohamed Morsi.

His trial has been adjourned until December 15th, with the potential for the death penalty hanging over him if convicted.

His sister Somaia said the family will have to take their fight to the highest level to secure his release.

“We have seen how the efforts of the EU helped in the case of Al-Jazeera journalists and we believe that with wider EU support, Ibrahim’s release can be secured,” she said.

In Brussels, the family and their lawyers will host a briefing on the case for Irish MEPs organised Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan.

The legal team will also make an address to the parliament, calling on European authorities to act to securing the teenager’s immediate release.

Mr Halawa, from Firhouse in Dublin, has been detained in Cairo since August 2013. He was initially arrested with three of his sisters who were later released. Now 19, Mr Halawa has been in prison for more than 800 days.

His lawyers, who were refused access to him until last month, said he was denied medical treatment for a gunshot wound to his hand following his arrest and he has been left permanently disfigured as a result.

Australian journalist Peter Greste, who was detained after reporting on the Cairo turmoil, will address MEPs as he was eventually released following international diplomatic and legal pressure.

The Reprieve organisation, which works for people facing death penalty cases, will also make an address.

Darragh Mackin, of KRW LAW — which is representing the Halawa family, said addressing MEPs with other lawyers and journalists should send a clear message to Cairo authorities that the EU is taking the Halawa case very seriously and the consequences cannot be ignored.

“We shall continue to seek Ibrahim’s immediate release and this opportunity on Brussels is part of that campaign,” he said.

PA