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Egyptian security forces try to keep angry crowds away from the al-Fatah mosque AP Photo/Hussein Tallal
Egypt
Hopes that four Irish citizens detained in Egypt will be released today
The sister of the four siblings held in a Cairo jail says that her 17-year-old brother has been beaten.
FOUR IRISH CITIZENS held in a Cairo prison may be released today and are in good health.
The Halawa siblings, whose father is the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, are being held in military detention in the Egyptian capital, but a Turkish diplomat has met with them and says they are in good health.
The siblings: Ibrahim (17), Omaima (21), Fatima (23) and Soumaya (27), were taken after a security force stormed the al-Fatah mosque in which they and other supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood had taken shelter.
They were transported to Cairo’s Tora prison and are expected to face the local prosecutor’s office at 2pm today.
The sibling’s sister Nusayba told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that she was fearful that Ibrahim, who was due to receive his CAO offer today, was being beaten.
“I was talking to a girl who told me they are beating men to hell. She wasn’t sure how he looked, but she said that all of the men were being beaten.”
Asked why her siblings, who had gone to Egypt on a holiday in June, became involved in the protests, Nusayba said that the siblings were involved in peaceful protests.
“The people want democracy and other people want a coup. People in Egypt want democracy.”
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