Prosecution case ends in Halawa trial in Egypt

The case for the prosecution has ended in the lengthy and ongoing trial in Egypt of Dubliner Ibrahim Halawa, who has been in jail for almost four years.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, said he welcomed the fact that there had been “further progress” in the trial, and said he had spoken on the phone with the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, and raised with him his concerns about Mr Halawa’s situation.

He said he had stressed his commitment to seeing Mr Halawa returned to Ireland as soon as possible.

Mr Halawa was 17 when he was arrested and imprisoned in 2013 while attending a protest in Cairo along with his three sisters.

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Mr Halawa’s sisters were released, but he has remained in prison and his trial has now been adjourned 26 times.

The case to be made by the defence is expected to begin shortly. The court is expected to sit again next Sunday.

Diplomats from the Irish Embassy were in the court in Cairo for the latest hearing, and “there is further encouraging news of progress in the trial,” Mr Coveney said.

“The last of the prosecution witnesses were called, and the judge confirmed that no further prosecution witnesses will be called.

“The presiding judge made clear his determination to move the trial forward quickly and indicated that the defendants and their lawyers, including Ibrahim and his Egyptian legal team, will have their opportunity to put forward their case before the panel of judges in the coming weeks.”

Mr Halawa is one of 494 men who were arrested and charged with offences that carry the death penalty during anti-government demonstrations.

There have been repeated expressions of concern for the young man’s health and his family has said he has suffered ill-treatment and torture.

Mr Halawa’s sister Somaia said the family continued to be very disappointed by how matters were progressing.

Amnesty International has declared Mr Halawa a prisoner of conscience based on what it says is eye-witness evidence that he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of.

“Today’s trial adjournment means that Ibrahim will tonight spend his 1,423th night in prison in Egypt,” it said in a statement.