Lawyers cautiously welcome reported progress in Ibrahim Halawa case

Lawyers for Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa, who is on trial in Cairo for alleged participation in a political protest, have cautiously welcomed reports of progress in his trial yesterday.

Mr Halawa, 21, was 17 at the time of his arrest in 2013 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.

According to Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan, who updated TDs yesterday, eleven witnesses gave evidence at the latest hearing.

Mr Flanagan added: “At the end of the hearing, Ibrahim’s lawyers requested his release on medical grounds and the judge undertook to examine the matter. I very much welcome that development.”

Solicitor Darragh Mackin of Belfast firm KRW Law, representing Mr Halawa, told ILN: “We cautiously welcome this latest development. Whilst it is a positive step in the direction of the trial concluding, we cannot close our mind to the very fact this is a mass trial with an inherent lack of fairness, and due process.

“Ibrahim’s health is now at an all-time low, and it is on foot of that deterioration that we hope the Judge will accede to the application for his release. There has never been a more important time for increase diplomatic and international pressure.”

The next hearing in the case will take place on Wednesday 26 April.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Enda Kenny sent an urgent letter to Egyptian President Abdel el-Sisi to request Mr Halawa’s release from jail on humanitarian grounds.