Sinn Féin’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Seán Crowe TD, raised the case of Ibrahim Halawa with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, during Question time in the Dáil.

Crowe also raised issues concerning Palestine and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:
“It is completely unacceptable that Ibrahim Halawa has now spent more than 600 days in jail in Egypt and that he is still being held in dreadful and unsafe conditions.

“Ibrahim is prisoner of conscience and it remains clear that his mass show trial will not provide him with a fair legal hearing in Egypt, considering the political situation there.

“Ibrahim is facing into his sixth mass trial in Egypt this Sunday. I welcome that the Irish Ambassador will be there, but I would call on An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to contact the Egyptian President personally and discuss Ibrahim’s case with him.

“All options need to be explored to ensure that Ibrahim can safely return home to Ireland as soon as possible.”

Speaking on Israel-Palestine relations, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Deputy Crowe said:

“I welcome that Minister Flanagan agreed that with me that the comments of the Israeli Prime Minister during the Israeli elections in relation to Arab voters, and that he would ensure that a Palestinian State was not created, were inflammatory and completely unacceptable.

“I once again urged the Minister to act on the Sinn Féin motion calling on the Irish Government to urgently recognise the State of Palestine which unanimously passed the Dáil.

“The civil war in Syria has a devastating impact on the country and the region. Reports are that 200,000 to 300,000 people have been killed so far and 4 million people have become refugees.

“This is one of the worst humanitarian crises the world is facing and we need a united front to tackle it.

“The Yarmouk camp, for Palestinian refugees, has been described by UNRWA, the UN Refugee Agency, as hell on earth.

“Ireland must commit resources and money to support the work of UNRWA and other UN agencies in helping all refugees in the Syrian conflict.

“The siege of Yarmouk needs to be lifted and civilians trapped there allowed to leave safely, and free from the threat of death or injury.”

ENDS