Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has welcomed the release of the Al Jazeera journalists, and repeated his calls for the Egyptian Government to release Irish Citizen Ibrahim Halawa.

Crowe has also called on the Irish Government to do more to secure the release of the jailed Irish citizen who has and has his human rights violated.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Ibrahim Halawa has been in prison since August 2013 for protesting against the military coup which overthrew the democratically elected Government of Mohamed Morsi.

“Since his arrest his human rights have been violated, he has been charged as an adult even though he was arrested as a minor, and he faces a mass trial of about 490 defendants with no chance of getting justice. This trial was suspended for the fourth time last week.

“I understand that the Irish Government has been lobbying the Egyptian Government and the Ambassador has been to visit Ibrahim on many occasions. However I believe its time to do more.

“The Australian government formally sought and succeeded in securing the release of its citizen, Al Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste. While the cases are different it does show what can be done by the positive influence of a citizens’ Government.

“It is clear that Ibrahim is a political prisoner and the Government must redouble it efforts to get him released.

“I understand that this is difficult and sensitive diplomacy but the Irish Government needs to leave no avenue unexplored while an Irish citizen is detained on spurious charges by the Egyptian administration.”

ENDS