Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for International Affairs and Outreach, Seán Crowe TD, has stated that the further postponement of the judgement in Ibrahim Halawa’s trial is completely unacceptable.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“A judgement in Ibrahim Halawa’s mass trial was due today but it has been postponed once again until 18 September. This is completely unacceptable and prolonging the agony for him and his family.

“Ibrahim has been detained for over 4 years. He has outlined in detail the ill-treatment that he and many others have faced, and the appalling prison conditions he has had to endure during his long incarceration. He was not charged for over a year after his arrest, is now part of a sham mass trial that is continually postponed, and has no real hope of ever receiving a fair trial.

“We are being led to believe that he will be pardoned after a judgement in the trial but we are again witnessing the same cruel delaying tactics in the announcement of the judgement that we have seen throughout his trial.

“An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, was due to have a call with the Egyptian President later today, as a judgement was expected. Despite the judgement postponement he should still make that call to the Egyptian President and insist Ibrahim is urgently freed and allowed to return to his family and friends in Ireland.”

ENDS