Ibrahim Halawa before his arrest with his sisters, from left: Fatima, Omaima and Somaia.
From top: Ibrahim Halawa moments after the verdict and Irish Consul at the Irish Embassy in Cairo Shane Gleeson (gesturing to Ibrahim)
This just in,
Declan Walsh tweetz:
Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa and his three sisters have been acquitted of all charges by an anti-terrorism court outside Cairo.
Ibrahim Halawa, moments after his acquittal. He jumped with joy, hugged fellow prisoners and had tears in his eyes…
Irish consul Shane Gleeson gestures to Ibrahim Halawa, Irishman imprisoned in Egypt for 4 years, after his acquittal…
In fairness.
Meanwhile…
Somaia Halawa, Ibrahim’s sister, said:
“We are delighted at today’s verdict. Our entire family are overjoyed at the result and we now look forward to seeing Ibrahim return home as soon as possible.
We would like to extend our thanks to all those who tirelessly campaigned and fought for Ibrahim’s release.”
Meanwhile…
Darragh Mackin, of KRW LAW solicitor to Ibrahim Halawa said:
“Today marks the end to what has been a turbulent four years. Throughout that time Ibrahim Halawa and his family have tirelessly fought for his freedom – and today’s verdict is a true testament to their hard work and dedication. Ibrahim and his family have been vindicated by today’s verdict.
We now look forward to seeing Ibrahim return home to his family in the coming days, and will be actively engaging with the Irish and Egyptian Government to ensure that happens without any further delay.”
Meanwhile…
President Michael D 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.”
Statement by President Michael D. Higgins welcoming the acquittal of Ibrahim Halawa
For me, Michael D is like Morgan Freeman…. I can only read his statements in his voice.
He’ll like that
Disgusting that it took 4 years. Interesting to see that the broflakes are still proclaiming him guilty!
broflakes???
Reactionary dolts who refuse to accept reality and stick to their own bigoted version of events.
Anybody know what (if anything) has happened to the 500 other defendants?
Have some trials been taking place in smaller groups? Or were all 500 acquitted today?
Only 52 were acquitted today according to BBC news.
from the bit I picked up some got freed, some got 4 more years and some got life sentences
A good news story! He’s lucky
Censorship untested necessitates terrible sacrifices.
…hooray…his only crime was to protest about the overthrow of a democratically elected government…it would almost restore your faith in the judiciary…this is the second time this year that the judiciary have acquited an Irish citizen in the face of obvious political interference and the charade of show trials…
So the judiciary of the junta that overthrew the democratically elected government is free of political influence ?
…it would appear that the judiciary in Egypt, as with the judiciary in this country, have managed not to succumb to blatant political interference.
The comments section on The Journal should be interesting
It’s as expected. A manky cesspool.
Unfortunately Irish government intervention was successful in have him freed against all evidence to the contrary.
Squeaky bum time over on thejournal … Id be pretty nervous if I were one of them…
just read some of the comments on the journal there, the reactionary right are out in full force with their bile. it’s just full of wah, wah, wah !
*climbs into Chemturion suit* ………”I’m going in….”
What reason do random commenters have to be nervous?
“’cause he’s a terrorist and will blow us all up. *all* of us.”
Brilliant, now lets grill him on where he stands on the Muslim Brotherhood and what exactly he was doing on a platform speaking to 1000s of protesters when he was supposed to be on his holidays.
*yoink* Don’t mind me, just collecting the salt from your tears.
So you think he should be just let back to Ireland with absolutely no questions being asked of him.
Yes.
You mean he should be allowed return home? To his home? In Ireland? As an Irish man?
Yes.
Will he travel home on his Irish passport or Egyptian passport?
He could use either, like the thousands of Irish people with dual British, American or Australian citizenship can.
Why, are you worried in case he ends up in a longer queue at Dublin airport?
I dont see what his nationality as to do with asking him questions. I’d expect to questioned when I came home if I was in a foreign country protesting and then spent 4 years in prison.
‘Are you okay?’ would be a good one to start with.
What sort of questions would you like to ask him?
Tell me now Ibrahim, what was it REALLY like being in jail for four years in Egypt?
That’s pathetic, even for you.
begorrah shure he’s not Oirish at all isn’t it the truth you’re spaking
“when he was supposed to be on his holidays.” I love that. Makes it all sound so sinister. I’ll use that next time I’m at confession.
“Father, I shot a man…”
“Is that all, my son?”
“…when I was supposed to be on my holidays.”
“Outrageous boy!”
Wow, he was part of a protest when he was ‘supposed’ to on holidays? I didn’t realise there were limitations in place for him when he traveled to Egypt four years ago? Is this against some private Eamonn Clancy rule you’ve put in place, applicable only to Irish-Egyptians? A country to which he has ties was in turmoil, and there were protests, why should he not join in? What gives you the right?
and now some random words arranged into a sentence:
FUrry faced larry lived in the city, but
luCK would have him on the ramble
OFF the fecund highway. garbled
RACIST thoughts would leave his gob when he
PRICKed his finger on a bramble.
purple monkey dishwasher.
Its ok, your from kerry. So we all understand the stupidity.
LOB A CLAIM IN BUD
Does this mean he’s Irish now?
is he any good at football?
Any Mayo connections?
When was he not Irish exactly?
His nationality was much disputed and debated on this site, as you very well know.
Yes, by rabid racists. Are we validating rabid racists now?
Don’t be a silly pants. You well know why his “irishness” was subject of talk. Without a long winded reply,about everyone being racist, answer me this why would an irish man go protest in Egypt.
I protested once in Israel, but I assure you I am not Israeli.
And if got arrested for you would deserve it. But you
If you mean myself by ‘we’, no. Don’t try and put words into my mouth Moyest! My comment was tongue-in-cheek, as you know full well that his nationality became the story and stoked up a lot of negative commentary between those who believed him to be Irish / Egyptian / Irish-Egyptian.
Yes there were a lot of rabid racists who wanted to pretend he wasn’t Irish so they could feel better about their racism. What did you think of those disgusting racists?
Don’t be disingenuous and creepy Hoop.
It’s pretty clear that when Moyest called you out on your unfunny remark you wanted to validate your own little humourless ferreting.
@Moyest. What do I think? I’m not sure why you’re suddenly interested in my opinion – I didn’t contribute anything to the story threads on here, it was quite boring and repetitive. I don’t tolerate any brand of racism, ‘rabid’ or otherwise, and I believe the law was right to acquit the man – if that’s what you’re looking for.
@Warden of the Snort
That’s exactly what your comment made me do – snort!! Write a book – your vocabulary is top notch.
Yes.
“You well know why his “irishness” was subject of talk.”
Yes. Racists think you have to be white to be Irish.
“answer me this why would an irish man go protest in Egypt.”
Because his parents are Egyptian and he was already over there visiting relatives like he did every year and the democratically elected government got overthrown by the military in an illegal coup.
You showed your true colour there. Your now the only person here who has mentioned skin colour being linked to being irish. Its a ridiculous and actually moronic statement to make, so if i question somebody’s irishness, which I did not I just stated we know why its being questioned then I’m only racist if its a non white person. Is that what ur saying
gaslighting
Where?
*lights match*
Nope. None o’ that there at all.
Fantastic. And especially with George Hook off the air not to spout the usual Foxrock guff about it.
TIL Foxrock is in Cork.
TIL rotide is terrible at reading comprehension.
Hence the Confederate flag. I wish it was.
No thanks to Amnesty Ireland or the Irish Times usual suspects. No equality for muslims.
Does anyone know what exactly he was charged with?
I think his main crime so far was that he wasn’t caught drinking pints of Guinness, asking if there was going to be spuds with his dinner, or being ‘hilarious’ abroad like those loveable young Irish scamps we usually send over to the away matches
Bacon and cabbage and boiled spuds of course.
thanks Egypt! .. coz ireland did eff all. but will be out in droves for photos with the poor fella.
If he is acquitted, then shouldn’t he walk free from the court, like, today? Why does his sister say “We hope he’ll be released soon and home within a couple of days.”
At the outset of this man’s incarceration, the term Ireland was used by his sister’s with reference to him getting back. The use of the word Ireland was then substituted by a more prudent and emotive term “home”
PS. Has his father made any comment to date. I don’t think so. Strange.
Apparently it usually takes a few days in Egypt for a release to be processed through the system (according to RTE news anyway)
What has George Hook to say on the matter?
I’m sorry.
See the comments on thejournal.ie. He has plenty of spare time on his chubby hands now to set up all those accounts.
member of the muslim brotherhood, should be on a terrorist watchlist.
It’s good of you to volunteer this information, give us your contact details and we’ll make sure you are put on the terrorist watchlist immediately.
they don’t send their best people
I have a strong feeling this comment section would hit 200 plus on this story if moderation wasn’t so stringent, but if you read the comment section of thejournal we are all better off.
Yes, racist could be leveled but the sheer ignorance makes the sphincter tighten and the eyes widen when you read the slurry that has 300 plus thumbs up.
ok I’ll bite
goes to look at this journal for the first time
something tells me I will regret it
Don’t worry