Ibrahim Halawa trial ends in Cairo with full acquittal

Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa has been acquitted in Cairo after four years of pre-trial detention and a major international campaign for his release.

Mr Halawa’s international legal team, including Belfast lawyer Darragh Mackin, has expressed great relief at the news.

The 21-year-old Irishman was arrested in Egypt in August 2013 and subjected, his lawyers say, to human rights abuses and inhuman prison conditions, including violent physical abuse, overcrowding, humiliation and lack of sanitation. His trial was adjourned over thirty times by the Egyptian courts.

Mr Halawa’s sister, Somaia, said: “We are delighted at today’s verdict. Our entire family are overjoyed at the result and we now look forward to seeing Ibrahim return home as soon as possible.

“We would like to extend our thanks to all those who tirelessly campaigned and fought for Ibrahim’s release.”

Mr Mackin, solicitor at KRW Law, added: “Today marks the end to what has been a turbulent four years. Throughout that time Ibrahim Halawa and his family have tirelessly fought for his freedom – and today’s verdict is a true testament to their hard work and dedication.

“Ibrahim and his family have been vindicated by today’s verdict. We now look forward to seeing Ibrahim return home to his family in the coming days, and will be actively engaging with the Irish and Egyptian Government to ensure that happens without any further delay.”

Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said “some semblance of justice has been done” with the acquittal of Mr Halawa, one of Amnesty’s Prisoners of Conscience.

Mr O’Gorman added: “While Ibrahim’s release puts an end to the gross injustice in his case, it is utterly disgraceful that the Egyptian authorities continue to hand out heavy sentences to other protesters after sham mass trials that flout the most basic standards of a fair trial, while security forces who used excessive and lethal force killing at least 97 protesters that day have escaped unpunished.”

Welcoming Mr Halawa’s acquittal, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said: “We are conscious that there will be some practical procedures and formalities to be gone through before Ibrahim will be able to fly back to Dublin, but my Department and our Embassy team will be assisting and supporting Ibrahim and his family to seek to ensure he gets home as soon as possible.”