Sir, – Egypt has, in recent years, experienced enormous upheaval and is, undoubtedly, today confronted by Islamic terrorists intent on perpetrating murder and mayhem. Egyptian citizens, police and soldiers have been slaughtered by Isis-affiliated terrorists. Egypt is entitled to the full and united support of the international community in fighting this scourge and in taking all appropriate and necessary action to protect its citizens and end the violence.
However, in fighting terrorism, Egypt must strive to respect the rule of law and individual human rights. Achieving this balance is difficult at times of crisis and, inevitably, errors of judgment occur and mistakes are made.
Mostafa Youssef, of the Egyptian Embassy (March 19th), correctly describes the threat posed to Egypt of terrorist attacks but, unfortunately, in the same letter, references the case of Ibrahim Halawa. While asserting the independence of the Egyptian judiciary, he also asserts the judiciary's "inalienable right" and "obligation to act when a person or persons violate the country's regulations in order to protect the majority against the minority, or anarchy will ensue". There is an unfortunate implication in this that Ibrahim Halawa did break the law and the courts are obliged to convict him to protect the majority.
Ibrahim Halawa was 17 when arrested with his sisters in Cairo in August 2013. His sisters have long since been released and he should have been released together with them. He has been held in jail now for 19 months. His family are, understandably, very concerned for his welfare during his incarceration. Ibrahim’s trial has been postponed four times. He shared a cell with Peter Greste, the Australian Al Jazeera journalist released six weeks ago.
Ibrahim’s trial is now scheduled for March 29th. It is scheduled as a mass trial in which he will be prosecuted together with 490 others and will view the trial from inside a cage with the other defendants.
While it is a basic principle that states respect the domestic legal jurisdiction of other states, no trial of this nature deserves the respect Mr Youssef demands it be given. No court in any state can properly determine individual guilt or innocence in any such mass trial. No lawyer can properly defend an accused in such circumstances. To say any such trial is a gross violation of individual human rights is not, as Mr Youssef alleges, observing such an event “through the flawed lens of a camera” or a result of unprofessional journalism or bias. It is merely stating the obvious.
Egypt and Ireland have been friends for decades. Egypt and its citizens deserve our support at this difficult time. Ibrahim Halawa is a young Irish citizen who should presently be participating in third-level education and not occupying a jail cell in Cairo. The charges against him should be withdrawn, his nightmare brought to an end and this Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience should be released and allowed to return to his home and to his family in Dublin. – Yours, etc,
ALAN SHATTER, TD
Leinster House,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.