Search icon

News

25th Apr 2017

Ibrahim Halawa Has Written An Impassioned Plea To The Taoiseach

James Fenton

An Irishman who has been jailed in Egypt for the past four years without trial has written an impassioned plea to Enda Kenny to help secure his release.

The 21-year-old was locked up during Muslim Brotherhood protests in Cairo in 2013.

According to the Irish Independent, Mr. Halawa, who has undergone hunger strikes in a bid to highlight his plight, penned the letter to his family after Egyptian-US citizen Aya Higazy was released. 

Mr. Halawa wrote:

“I am currently writing this with the most pain in my life but a worst pain has just attacked me, a mental pain… How much I feel abandoned,”

“Tell me without hiding behind your finger, how do I feel towards my own government? The one I have hanged the flag of above me in my cell over my 35cm sleeping space.

“I hanged it even though they have left me to die in one of the worst prisons in Egypt without trying to move me. They have left me as a kid beaten and tortured to sit and watch all the other nationalities leave to their home.”

Ms. Higazy’s release came after American President Donald Trump met with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. 

Mr. Halawa went on:

“After nearly four years of imprisonment I still wonder what trust does the Irish Government have in the Egyptian judiciary system, proven people innocent after taking away three or more years of their lives.

“I wonder when will Enda Kenny ever get on to a plane to save the Irish citizen?

“When will Enda Kenny make Irish citizens feel safe to fly abroad? Enda send your child to school and wait four years for them to return and see if they’re going to call you dad again.”

Mr. Halawa’s trial has been adjourned more than 20 times and is due before the courts again tomorrow.

READ NEXT: Irishman Plans To Swim 500km In Honour Of His Late Father

Topics: