Dundalk Amnesty focus on Halawa

The Dundalk Amnesty group has highlighted the case of Irish man Ibrahim Halawa who remains in an Egyptian prison and is in failing health.

On August 17 2013, President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt was thrown out of office by the then Military General Sisi. The president’s supporters were imprisoned and when people took to the streets they faced the same faith or worse. More people died that day standing up for democracy than ever before in history.

One of those imprisoned by the Egyptian authorities on that infamous day was Ibrahim Halawa from Firhouse, Dublin who was put in prison simply for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Co-ordinator for the Dundalk Amnesty group, Fergal Kilkenny said: ‘ Three and a half years on, being subjected to a mass trial, possible death penalty, and 20 trail postponements later, Amnesty International is today more than ever even more resolved to see Ibrahim released and returned home to Ireland.

‘ The local group has joined with over 1.8 million other Amnesty members to stand up for human rights at every possible opportunity. Ibrahim’s contin- ued detention has been of great concern to the Dundalk group.

‘We have been in contact with the Irish government and written to the Egyptian authorities and many international figures to try and secure his release.

‘It is absolutely essential now given the fact that Ibrahim is on hunger strike and in very poor health that the Irish government to use every means at their disposal to secure his release.

‘ The dundalk group has been active locally for the last 23 years and has been involved in many landmark human rights cases. Today more than ever we need to stand up to injustice wherever it may be’.

If you feel you would like to help us with human rights work here in Dundalk, the local group would love to have you on board. For more information, you can email: dundalkamint@ gmail.com.