Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has called for Ibrahim Halawa to be freed by the Egyptian authorities as there is no possibility he will receive a fair trial.

Ibrahim, who is from Dublin, was arrested at a pro-democracy protest and has been jailed for over one year and has still not faced a trial.

Deputy Crowe said:

“Ibrahim was in court today as part of an partial and mass show trial of 480 defendants.

“So far he has been detained for one year without a trial. As he was 17 years old when he was arrested he should have been treated as a minor, but instead he is being tried as an adult. Additionally he has reported that he was tortured and abused while in detention.

“It has been clear for some time that Ibrahim has no chance of having a free and fair trial in the current political charged atmosphere in Egypt. Recently three Al-Jazeera journalists were given heavy sentences after a five-month trial which international human rights groups described as a ‘sham’.

“When Ibrahim’s court case started today the judge walked out of the court saying he would not preside over the case, signalling that he also thinks this mass show trial is a farce.

“The Irish Government has discussed the case with the Egyptian authorities. As it is increasingly clear that Ibrahim will never receive a fair trial in Egypt, I am calling on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to officially demand that Ibrahim is immediately released and allowed to return to his family in Ireland.”

ENDS