Skip to content Skip to footer

Irish Teenager Among Prisoners Set for Egypt Mass Trial

That the Egyptian government has arrested and tortured children, in contravention of its own and international law, is horrifying enough.

A mass trial in Egypt tomorrow (August 12) could see death sentences handed down to hundreds of prisoners, including an Irish teenager who was a juvenile at the time of his arrest.

Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen, was 17 when he was arrested last August along with his three older sisters, now released, after being caught up in protests in Cairo in the turmoil that followed the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi. He has since been held in a series of adult prisons in the capital without charge or trial, in contravention of international law and the country’s own Child Laws.

The Egyptian authorities have refused to consider proof of Mr. Halawa’s age and nationality, provided by his family, lawyers, and consular officials, and instead insist he is an adult. Tomorrow’s mass trial, to be held in a makeshift court in the notorious Tora prison complex, will see him appearing alongside over 480 adults.

In conversations with legal charity Reprieve, which is assisting him, Mr. Halawa’s family say he has reported torture during his detention; including being stripped, beaten with chains and whips, forced to drink from the toilet, and subject to racist taunts by guards for being Irish. He is reported to be permanently disfigured after being shot in the hand and denied medical treatment.

Maya Foa, head of Reprieve’s death penalty team, said: “That the Egyptian government has arrested and tortured children, in contravention of its own and international law, is horrifying enough; that it is now seeking to hand down summary death sentences for hundreds of prisoners at a time, including Ibrahim and other juveniles, is an utter disgrace. Other governments should take all steps necessary to prevent this travesty of justice and ensure no lives are lost in the process.”

We’re not going to stand for it. Are you?

You don’t bury your head in the sand. You know as well as we do what we’re facing as a country, as a people, and as a global community. Here at Truthout, we’re gearing up to meet these threats head on, but we need your support to do it: We must raise $21,000 before midnight to ensure we can keep publishing independent journalism that doesn’t shy away from difficult — and often dangerous — topics.

We can do this vital work because unlike most media, our journalism is free from government or corporate influence and censorship. But this is only sustainable if we have your support. If you like what you’re reading or just value what we do, will you take a few seconds to contribute to our work?