Family of Ibrahim Halawa consider lawsuit against Egypt

The family of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa are preparing a lawsuit against Egypt over delays to his trial in Cairo, The Irish News reports.

Mr Halawa is one of hundreds of people who are being tried in mass trial for serious offences related to alleged participation in a political protest in 2013, all of which he strongly denies.

Lawyers for Mr Halawa expected the long-running proceedings against him to come to a conclusion on Monday, but they were instead adjourned again until 18 September 2017.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin of Belfast firm KRW Law has spent a year preparing a legal case against Egypt and a lawsuit is expected to be launched if a verdict is not delivered at the next court date.

Somaia Halawa, one of Mr Halawa’s sisters, told The Irish News: “Ibrahim’s mental health is being played around with. We as a family can’t accept it anymore. There has to be a deadline to this joke.

“The Egyptian government are playing with us because they know very well that there’s not much pressure being put on them.

“They know very well we are waiting for a trial. There’s no pressure to tell them you have a limit.”