Ibrahim Halawa in Detention for No Charge

The story of Ibrahim Halawa started in August 2013 when the Halawas arrived in Cairo with their mother for an annual family holiday several weeks before president Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the army in July last year.

Ibrahim  (18)was arrested with his sisters Soumaia (28), Fatima (23) and Omaima (21) during the clashes between supporters of Morsi and security forces last August .The siblings were helping the injured people .

The three sisters were released three months later, following sustained pressure by the Irish government.

“Nearly a year in prison without charge is against all international principles of justice and humanity," said Somya Halawa.

“Ibrahim was arrested and detained by the military government in Egypt – to date no formal charges have been served on him,” she said. 

Ibrahim was  expected to appear before one of Egypt’s courts  on July 16th,but the hearing was postponed until August the 12th for no reason.

Ibrahim is in Al-Marg prison north east Cairo.He is dramatically ill-treated and denied his primary human rights. Ibrahim has been repeatedly denied access to his lawyer and denied the right to a proper court hearing. 

"Ibrahim was brutally beaten and denied medical treatment resulting in a permanent deformity in his hand. Since August 17th, 2013 he  has been suffering. We share his sleeplessness and heart is broken,"Amina Halawa said.

Ibrahim pleaded with Ms Ashton for her help and described the appalling conditions of his arrest and detention.

"I was stripped naked and beaten," he wrote. "My parents were told I was not here. I am not allowed to even call my father."

Ibrahim also described how he was taunted by prison guards, who told him: "'Do you think the EU are going to save you? The passport is nothing, you are not someone important. They will not come and take you out.' But I know I am important, I am human and that is enough," Ibrahim said.

"If I am to be killed by any cop who wishes to kill me, or given the death sentence or life if they wish, with no evidence held against me, I hold you finally responsible for whatever happens to me," the Leaving Certificate student from Firhouse in Dublin added.

More than 1000 people anti  coup were sentenced to death penalty because they still support the ousted president Mohamed Morsy.The policy of massive punishment and uprooting regardless of the cost spares no body. on the 10th February during the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, EU Foreign Ministers expressed a wide variety of concerns relating to Egypt's escalating violence, human rights abuses and in particular the practice of “selective justice.".