KHADIJA HALAWA, THE sister of detained Halawa siblings in Cairo said today that she hoped her brother and three sisters will be set free.
Her four Irish siblings, Omaima (21), Fatima (23) and Soumaya (27) and their 17-year-old brother Ibrahim, who are being detained in Egypt after being arrested earlier this month will today face a prosecutor in Cairo.
Arrested
They were arrested after they joined Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations against the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi.
Minister of State Joe Costello has said that their “fate will be decided today”.
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Khadija Halawa said the family were pleased to hear that her siblings were to be reunited today, as her sisters are now being moved to be with their brother in the camp he is being detained in.
“We heard that Ibrahim was to be held separately to his sisters, which is why we wanted to send two representatives from the Irish embassy” adding they had two lawyers representing them.
Asked to sign document
She said the family were concerned about them as they had heard they were being asked to sign a document yesterday that stated what they were being charged with. “We tried to get in touch with Ibrihim to tell him not to sign it,” she said.
“We have not been told if they are going to be held again or if they could be free,” said Khadija.
When asked if she was optimistc about today, she said she was not, saying: “I am very worried. Especially when I heard the news that the charges had been presented to them on a piece of paper and they were asked to sign it”.
She said: “We are hoping for good news, but to be honest, because of the situation in Cairo right now, we are not sure what could happen.”
Further detention
She said they had information that her siblings could be held for a further 15 days. “That is what they do, they either let them free or keep them for another 15 days, so we are waiting to know the answer”.
She also said that she and her family had been very badly treated when they first went to visit her sisters and brother, but added that the consular had been of great assistance to her and her family. She added that when she had visited them, their mood was angry, but she could understand that.
She added: “I do hope that with the consular being there and our lawyers being there, I hope that will make a difference”.
“We are waiting for good news today,” she said.
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