This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/world/middleeast/ibrahim-halawa-irish-prisoner-in-egypt-freed.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
After 4 Years in Jail, Release Looms for Irishman in Egypt After 4 Years in Jail, Release Looms for Irishman in Egypt
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — A young Irish prisoner punched the air and wept with relief at a prison courthouse near Cairo on Monday, as a judge acquitted him on all charges relating to a 2013 political protest that turned violent.CAIRO — A young Irish prisoner punched the air and wept with relief at a prison courthouse near Cairo on Monday, as a judge acquitted him on all charges relating to a 2013 political protest that turned violent.
The acquittal brought a likely conclusion to a four-year jail ordeal that turned the Irishman, Ibrahim Halawa, 21, into one of the most prominent foreigners trapped in Egypt’s harsh judicial system.The acquittal brought a likely conclusion to a four-year jail ordeal that turned the Irishman, Ibrahim Halawa, 21, into one of the most prominent foreigners trapped in Egypt’s harsh judicial system.
Mr. Halawa’s plight draw broad public sympathy in Ireland and sharp criticism from human rights groups that decried his trial, along with at least 480 other people, as a travesty, not least because Mr. Halawa was 17 when arrested. Mr. Halawa’s plight drew broad public sympathy in Ireland and sharp criticism from human rights groups that described his trial, along with that of at least 480 other people, as a travesty, not least because Mr. Halawa was 17 when arrested.
At least 439 other people, including a young American, were found guilty and given sentences that ranged from five years to life in prison.At least 439 other people, including a young American, were found guilty and given sentences that ranged from five years to life in prison.
The American, Ahmed Etiwy, 27, who was raised in New York and Cairo, was a student at the German University in Cairo when he was arrested. His case has come to light only in recent months after Aya Hijazi, another Egyptian-American, was released from jail following concerted pressure from the White House. The American, Ahmed Etiwy, 27, who was raised in New York and Cairo, was a student at the German University in Cairo when he was arrested. His case came to light only in recent months after Aya Hijazi, another Egyptian-American, was released from jail after concerted pressure from the White House.
The judge sentenced Mr. Etiwy to five years in prison, although he may soon be eligible for release on account of time served. The judge sentenced Mr. Etiwy to five years in prison, although he may soon be eligible for release for time served.
American consular officials sat quietly in the largely deserted courtroom at Wadi Natroun prison, 60 miles from central Cairo, as Mr. Etiwy’s sentence was read out. Moments later an Irish diplomat raised his fist in celebration as Mr. Halawa, barely visible behind a metal mesh and a long Perspex screen, was declared innocent. American consular officials sat quietly in the largely deserted courtroom at Wadi Natroun prison, 60 miles from central Cairo, as Mr. Etiwy’s sentence was read out. Moments later an Irish diplomat raised his fist in celebration as Mr. Halawa, barely visible behind a metal mesh and a plastic screen, was declared innocent.
The contrasting fortunes of the two foreigners brought into sharp relief the dilemmas facing Western leaders in Egypt, in particular President Trump, who has sought to nurture a chummy relationship with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at a time when Egypt faces a barrage of accusations over its human rights record. The contrasting fortunes of the two foreigners brought into sharp relief the dilemmas facing Western leaders in Egypt, in particular President Trump, who has sought to nurture a friendly relationship with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at a time when Egypt faces a barrage of accusations over its human rights record.
Mr. Sisi’s government has imprisoned tens of thousands of opponents, yet furiously denies frequent accusations of human rights violations by its security forces, most recently in a Human Rights Watch report detailing accusation of torture by those forces. Mr. Sisi’s government has imprisoned tens of thousands of opponents, yet furiously rejects the frequent accusations of gross abuses by its security forces, most recently in a Human Rights Watch report detailing accusations of widespread torture.
Trump administration officials argue that it is more productive to voice their criticisms of Mr. Sisi in private. They heralded Ms. Hijazi release, which occurredweeks after Mr. Sisi visited the White House in April, as a vindication of that policy. But at least 20 other Americans, including Mr. Etiwy, are still held in Egyptian jails. Trump administration officials argue that it is more productive to voice their criticisms of Mr. Sisi in private. They have pointed as vindication of their policy to the release of Ms. Hijazi, an American aid worker detained for three years in Egypt. She was free weeks after Mr. Sisi visited the White House in April. But at least 20 other Americans, including Mr. Etiwy, are still held in Egyptian jails.
In Dublin, Mr. Halawa’s sisters ululated and hugged one another outside their home in a suburban housing development. Speaking by phone, his sister Nosayba said the family fell to their knees in relief when they heard the verdict. “Then we went back to crying and hugging each other,” she said. In Dublin, Mr. Halawa’s sisters ululated and hugged one another outside their home in a suburban housing development. Speaking by phone, his sister Nosayba said family members had fallen to their knees in relief when they heard the verdict. “Then we went back to crying and hugging each other,” she said.
In New York, Mr. Etiwy’s family was “heartbroken,” said his American lawyer, Praveen Madhiraju. Mr. Madhiraju said he had lobbied the State Department to pressure the Egyptian government to release his client, citing a United States statute that obliges the president to demand the release of Americans unlawfully imprisoned abroad. In New York, Mr. Etiwy’s family was “heartbroken,” said his American lawyer, Praveen Madhiraju. Mr. Madhiraju said he had asked the State Department to pressure the Egyptian government to release his client, citing a United States statute that obliges the president to demand the release of Americans unlawfully imprisoned abroad.
“Aside the law, it’s just morally the president’s obligation,” Mr. Madhiraju said.“Aside the law, it’s just morally the president’s obligation,” Mr. Madhiraju said.
The mass trial stemmed from one of the bloodiest, most politically charged moments in recent Egyptian history. On Aug. 14, 2013, Egyptian security forces killed at least 800 people in central Cairo as they dispersed Muslim Brotherhood supporters who had gathered to protest the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the country’s elected president, by the military a month earlier.The mass trial stemmed from one of the bloodiest, most politically charged moments in recent Egyptian history. On Aug. 14, 2013, Egyptian security forces killed at least 800 people in central Cairo as they dispersed Muslim Brotherhood supporters who had gathered to protest the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the country’s elected president, by the military a month earlier.
Days later a second protest, this time against the military, in Ramses Square in Cairo turned violent, with hundreds of people taking refuge in a mosque. After a protracted standoff, the police cleared the protesters from the mosque, arresting hundreds of people including Mr. Halawa and three of his sisters. Days later a second protest, this time against the military, in Ramses Square in Cairo turned violent, with hundreds of people taking refuge in a mosque. After a protracted standoff, the police cleared the protesters from the mosque, arresting hundreds of people, including Mr. Halawa and three of his sisters.
Mr. Halawa’s sisters were released on bail and returned home to Ireland, but their brother faced charges that carried a potential death penalty. His case become a national cause in Ireland, leading to visits to Egypt by an Irish parliamentary delegation last January, and direct lobbying by successive Irish prime ministers.Mr. Halawa’s sisters were released on bail and returned home to Ireland, but their brother faced charges that carried a potential death penalty. His case become a national cause in Ireland, leading to visits to Egypt by an Irish parliamentary delegation last January, and direct lobbying by successive Irish prime ministers.
In a statement Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, welcomed the end of an “extraordinarily protracted case” and said Irish diplomats would ensure Mr. Halawa “gets home as soon as possible”. In a statement, Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, welcomed the end of an “extraordinarily protracted case” and said Irish diplomats would ensure Mr. Halawa “gets home as soon as possible.” Mr. Halawa’s sisters, who had been tried in absentia, were also cleared of all charges.
Mr. Halawa’s father, a cleric at an Islamic center in Dublin, is the general secretary of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, a body headed by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an inspirational figure for the Muslim Brotherhood.Mr. Halawa’s father, a cleric at an Islamic center in Dublin, is the general secretary of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, a body headed by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an inspirational figure for the Muslim Brotherhood.
Mr. Etiwy, 27, was a student at the German University in Cairo in 2013 when he was arrested along with a cousin and an uncle. His family said that he was escorting his grandfather to a bus station when he became swept up in the crowds of protesters. Mr. Etiwy, the American student, was at the university in Cairo when he was arrested along with a cousin and an uncle. His family said that he was escorting his grandfather to a bus station when he became swept up in the crowds of protesters.
His uncle received a five-year sentence on Monday, and his cousin 10 years. Mr. Etiwy’s lawyer, Mr. Madhiraju, said his client was not politically active before 2013 and had no ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has since been banned in Egypt. His cousin received a five-year sentence on Monday, and his uncle 10 years. Mr. Etiwy’s lawyer, Mr. Madhiraju, said that his client had not been politically active before 2013 and that he had not had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has since been banned in Egypt.
Monday’s verdict also brought harsh news for Mohammed Soltan, a prominent American-Egyptian activist and former prisoner, whose father, Salah Soltan, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor.Monday’s verdict also brought harsh news for Mohammed Soltan, a prominent American-Egyptian activist and former prisoner, whose father, Salah Soltan, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor.
Amnesty International, which called the trial a “cruel farce” said the 440 defendants convicted on Monday should be retried in a proceeding that meets international standards, or released. Amnesty International, which called the trial a “cruel farce,” said the 440 defendants convicted on Monday should be retried in a proceeding that meets international standards, or released.
“These proceedings expose the deep flaws in Egypt’s notorious criminal justice system,” said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.“These proceedings expose the deep flaws in Egypt’s notorious criminal justice system,” said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
It routinely takes several days to process prisoners for release in Egypt, and under Egyptian law, the prosecution can appeal Mr. Halawa’s acquittal within 60 days.It routinely takes several days to process prisoners for release in Egypt, and under Egyptian law, the prosecution can appeal Mr. Halawa’s acquittal within 60 days.
Irish officials, therefore, scrambled to have him freed as soon as possible, Irish officials, therefore, scrambled to have him freed as soon as possible, to avoid a fresh appeal and Mr. Halawa being sucked back into Egypt’s legal system before he left the country.
to avoid a fresh appeal and Mr. Halawa being sucked back into Egypt’s legal system before he left the country.