Dáil approves cross-party motion on Ibrahim Halawa
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TDs have given their backing to a cross-party motion which recognises the detention of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt as “an unacceptable infringement of his basic human rights by any international standard”.
Mr Halawa, 20, is being prosecuted in Cairo alongside 493 co-defendants in mass trial for allegedly participating in a political protest in 2013.
He was 17 at the time of his arrest and has been charged with serious offences, all of which he strongly denies. His lawyers believe that, if convicted, he may face the death penalty.
His trial in Cairo was recently adjourned again at a hearing where verdict was widely expected to have finally been passed.
Solicitor Darragh Mackin of Belfast firm KRW Law, acting for Mr Halawa, said it came “as an appalling surprise to all involved”.
In a rare show of cross-party unity, the motion was jointly tabled by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Labour’s Brendan Howlin, AAA/PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett, Independent Michael Harty, Independents4Change TD Mick Wallace, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy.
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