THREE DUBLIN SISTERS who had been detained in Egypt since 17 August have been released, Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has confirmed.
Somaia, Fatima and Omaima were freed from detention in Egypt today following intervention by the Irish government.
However their brother Ibrahim Halawa is still being detained and is due to attend a further hearing in Egypt on Saturday.
“My Department will continue to provide consular assistance to him and liaise with the Egyptian authorities on his ongoing detention without charge,” said Eamon Gilmore.
The four Irish citizens had been imprisoned after a protest they were taking part in calling for the reinstatement of ousted president Mohammed Morsi turned violent.
The Halawa siblings were visited by Irish consular staff during their time in detention.
Eamon Gilmore said the Irish government had increased pressure on Egyptian authorities to release the four siblings in recent days.
“I telephoned Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Monday last to express my concern that the Halawa siblings had been kept in prison for almost three months without being charged with an offence,” he said this afternoon.
“I also expressed the Government’s hope and expectation that the situation would be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in the near future,” he said.
Gilmore said he was “very pleased” with the outcome.
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