The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has expressed its deep concern in relation to the situation of Ibrahim Halawa, a 19 year old Irish citizen who has been detained without trial in Egypt for over two years. The Commission considers the circumstances of Ibrahim’s arrest and ongoing detention to give rise to a number of serious human rights issues, including in relation to the circumstances of his arrest and detention as a minor, his lack of access and right to a fair trial in the context of a mass trial and his right to freedom from torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.
The Commission welcomes the European Parliament resolution passed yesterday calling for Ibrahim’s immediate and unconditional release to the Irish authorities, on foot of a presidential decree issued in November 2014.
IHREC asks the Government to continue to press with urgency at the highest level for Ibrahim Halawa’s human rights under international law to be upheld.
Media Contact: Síle Murphy, Q4PR, 086 0288 132 / 01 475 1 444
Notes to the Editor
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has taken several initiatives within its mandate as a national human rights institution.
Ibrahim’s case has been discussed at length by members of the Commission on a number of occasions, following which the Chief Commissioner Emily Logan met with Charlie Flanagan T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and his officials to express the Commission’s concern. The Commission has made contact with the President of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, which is the national human rights institution under Egyptian law. In addition, Commission officials have met with Ibrahim’s sister, Somaia.