Good news…
On Monday, it was revealed that Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa had been acquitted of all charges relating to a protest in 2013.
Halawa and hundreds of others were arrested in August 2013 at Al-Fateh Mosque in Cairo following a protest against the then president Mohamed Morsi.
President Michael D. Higgins has released a statement welcoming Halawa’s release from his “distressing and draining experience.
In the statement, President Higgins said:
“As President of Ireland I welcome the news that Ibrahim Halawa and his three sisters have today been acquitted of all charges brought against him, and them, in what has been a prolonged, distressing and draining experience.
“Today’s decision brings to an end a long ordeal that Ibrahim, his family, friends and legal team have been put through.
“I am sure Ibrahim’s family are looking forward to the moment that Ibrahim will return to his home and loved ones.
“I am sure they will have been sustained by the support of all those who have campaigned for his release over the last four years.
“It is appropriate, also, to acknowledge at this time the important efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the staff at Ireland’s embassy in Cairo.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney also issued the following statement from New York, where he is currently attending the ongoing UN General Assembly session:
“On behalf of the Government and on my own behalf I welcome the news from Cairo that Ibrahim Halwa has been acquitted. This is the good news we had been hoping for. Ibrahim Halawa’s name has been cleared and his innocence is confirmed. I look forward to him being released from custody without delay.
“My thoughts are with Ibrahim and his family at this time of great emotion for them.
“The Government’s priority now is to support Ibrahim and his family in every way that we can in order to ensure that Ibrahim is able to return home to his family and friends as soon as possible.
“We are conscious that there will be some practical procedures and formalities to be gone through before Ibrahim will be able to fly back to Dublin, but my Department and our Embassy team will be assisting and supporting Ibrahim and his family to seek to ensure he gets home as soon as possible.”
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