Ibrahim Halawa: Kenny to contact Egyptian president

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected to contact Egypt's president within the next week to express his concern about the latest adjournment of the trial of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa.

The young man’s trial was postponed for the 16th time on Saturday and no evidence has yet been heard.

Mr Halawa (20), who is from Firhouse in Dublin, has been in prison since August 2013, when he was arrested at the Fateh mosque in Cairo during protests against the ousting of then-president Mohamed Morsi.

He and 493 others have been put on mass trial on serious charges which could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty. About 80 of the defendants have been tried in absentia.

Mr Halawa’s case has been adjourned until December 13th, 2016, according to a tweet by his solicitor Darragh Mackin. The trial date is set for his 21st birthday. He was aged 17 when he was arrested.

Speaking on Sunday Mr Kenny said he was “very disappointed” at the latest adjournment.

He said Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan had had "a very intensive series of discussions over the last number of years" with his counterpart, Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry.

‘Judicial process’

“I myself spoke to president el-Sisi on two occasions and he made it perfectly clear that he is not in a position to interfere with the judicial process and that he can only use his presidential pardon powers once the case has been delivered upon,” Mr Kenny said.

He said Ireland supported the application under Egyptian law to have Mr Halawa deported to Ireland.

“So I’m concerned about this. It seems to be a case of a different issue every time that brings about a postponement of the case and I’d like to see that the case would be heard and that we could have a conclusion to it. So it’s my intention to contact president el-Sisi again about this matter as one of urgency, probably in the next week,” Mr Kenny said.