WRONGLY detained Irishman Ibrahim Halawa has been released from his Egyptian jail and will now begin his journey home.
The 21-year-old Irishman, originally from Dublin was arrested while visiting family in Egypt with his three sisters in 2013.
At the time, the north African country was in a state of unrest and the siblings took refuge in a Mosque in Cairo when Ibrahim, then aged 17, was arrested alongside his sisters.
While the women were released from prison in November 2013, Mr Halawa remained imprisoned.
He was acquitted last month after spending four years in prison in Cairo, although there were delays around releasing him from the prison.
Yesterday campaigners who had rallied for his freedom over the course of his imprisonment revealed that he had finally been released from the jail via Facebook.
Posted by Free Ibrahim Halawa on Thursday, October 19, 2017
Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed the news this morning, tweeting that Mr Halawa was being "supported" by family and the Irish Embassy in Cairo.
Delighted 2 confirm Ibrahim Halawa has been released, being supported by family+Embassy. Some formalities still required before flying home
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) October 19, 2017
President Michael D Higgins has also welcomed the news, claiming: "The release of Ibrahim Halawa will come as a great relief to his family."
"It will be welcomed by all those who were concerned for him in his long ordeal of imprisonment."
