Politics

Charlie Flanagan to engage in ‘high-level contacts’ over Halawa

Egyptian case to enter ‘new and crucial phase’, officials tell Flanagan in briefing

Omaima (left) Fatima and Somaia Halawa, sisters of Ibrahim Halawa, pictured, who will be the subject of diplomatic efforts by Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photograph: Aidan Crawley
Omaima (left) Fatima and Somaia Halawa, sisters of Ibrahim Halawa, pictured, who will be the subject of diplomatic efforts by Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photograph: Aidan Crawley
Sarah Bardon
Mon Jun 06 2016 - 01:00

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan is to engage in "high-level contacts" over the coming weeks in the Ibrahim Halawa case.

In briefing notes Mr Flanagan was told the trial is anticipated to end on June 29th.

Officials say the case will enter a "new and crucial phase" as the focus shifts from the judicial to the political process and how Mr Halawa can be returned to Ireland.

Mr Halawa is an Irish citizen who was arrested in Egypt in August 2013, following a protest at the Al Fateh mosque in Cairo. He was 17 at the time of the arrest and has remained in custody since, charged with 493 others as part of a group trial.

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The department has insisted it is pursuing a strategy since his detention. This is to see him released at the earliest opportunity so he can see his family and continue his studies at home, and also to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.

The department says it has opened lines of communication with the Egyptian authorities. Several conversations have taken place between the Taoiseach and the president of Egypt Fattah El-Sisi, Mr Flanagan and his Egyptian counterpart, through the ambassadors in Dublin and Cairo, as well as through other senior political and official levels.

The notes say the clear and consistent message is that no political intervention will be possible until the judicial process has concluded.

There have been more than 50 consular visits to Mr Halawa since he was detained in 2013, the most recent on April 17th.

Legal team

Speaking on Newstalk, a member of Mr Halawa’s legal team,

Mark Wassouf

, said the Government needed to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities.

Mr Wassouf said Mr Halawa could be freed under law 140, which is a presidential decree passed in Egypt in 2014. “It gives discretion to repatriate a foreign defendant back to their country of origin to either complete the judicial process or else serve out their sentence post-conviction.”

Mr Flanagan said he had reviewed law 140 and the presidential decree.

"I was disappointed that the application for bail which was supported by the Irish Government was not successful.

“I believe that as soon as a verdict is handed down by the courts we will then have an opportunity of pursuing issues under the presidential decree, and I intend to keep a very close eye on this case.”