Ibrahim and his two sisters were caught up in the riots in Egypt last July when visiting family in Cairo.
His sisters were released after 4 months while Abrahim continues to be unlawfully detained, without charge.
Since his detention he has been subject to torture, abuse, beatings and was shot in the arm. He has been denied medical attention and has limited access to his legal team.
On 12 August he will stand trial with 481 other defendants – all at the one session on the same day.
The judge may or may not hear representations from his legal team. From past experience of these mass trials, the judge may arbitrarily decide to hear submissions from only a dozen or so of the 482 defendants.
This means that Abrahim will not have an opportunity to put his case forward, cross examine witnesses or scrutinise evidence.
A similar mass trial in March of 529 defendants– with only a selective number of legal submissions - saw 429 defendants sentenced to death.
The right to a fair trial is a fundamental part of natural justice and denying such right is a clear violation of human rights As a solicitor, I am deeply offended - as should all Irish people - by this fundamental denial of human rights to one of our citizens, a boy of 18 who had just completed his Leaving Cert.
An Egyptian boy in Ireland if charged with breaking the law would be afforded a fair trial. The same right should be afford to Abrahim in Egypt who has at all times declared his innocence.
Please take a few seconds to sign the petition below that will accompany a request to the Egyptian Ambassador and our Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald to demand that Abrahim be given fair procedures in Egypt and allowed return home safely.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-ibrahim-halawa-home