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31 January 2016

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UCD students demand release of young Irish man imprisoned in Egypt

Protesters outside the Egyptian Embassy in Dublin

ON TUESDAY students, activists, and politicians gathered outside the Egyptian Embassy in Dublin to show their support for Ibrahim Halawa – who recently celebrated his 20th birthday in an Egyptian prison.

Groups from right across the student body took part in the protest including members of UCD Amnesty International and UCD Islamic Society. 

The young Irishman was in Cairo in 2013 visiting relatives when he was imprisoned for taking part in protests against the military overthrow of the democratically elected government.

Amnesty International have declared him a 'Prisoner of Conscience' and say his trial – which has continuously been postponed – does not meet international standards for a fair trial as he is to be tried alongside 493 other people.

Speaking at the demonstration, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Pádraig MacLochlainn TD said:

“It is totally unjust that Ibrahim has been in detention for this length of time, and there needs to be questions raised about the conditions in which he is being arbitrarily held”. 

The President of UCD’s Students’ Union, Marcus O’Halloran, spoke of the injustice that was ongoing for Ibrahim and expressed his sincerest support and admiration not only for Ibrahim, but also for his family who were in attendance and have shown commendable strength and energy throughout their campaign. 

Chairing the event was Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin and lead campaigner with the Free Ibrahim case. 

Lynn implored the crowd to make Ibrahim's plight an election issue during General Election campaign. 

Concluding the event, Sinn Féin UCD’s Public Relation’s Officer, Oisín MacCanna thanked all of those who came out and showed their support for Ibrahim and his family:

 “The campaign is at its strongest yet, with all of Ireland and the majority of the European community backing Ibrahim, so we need to keep this momentum going to get him back home to his friends and family safely,” he said

Free Ibrahim, Somalia, Lynn Boylan and Oisina MacCanna

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