Captured Irish-Egyptian siblings to meet prosecutor today
The Irish-Egyptian siblings being held in a Cairo prison will be taken to a prosecutors’ office today, with a representative from the Irish Embassy in Egypt.
Whether the 2pm meeting in Cairo constitutes a formal hearing or not is unclear at this stage.
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Costello has also confirmed that the four are "in good health".
Ibrihim Halawa, 17, and his three sisters Omaima, 20, Fatima, 22, and Somaia, 27, whose father is the Imam of a mosque in Dublin - were taking refuge in a mosque in Cairo during last Friday's violence when they were detained by police.
Minister Costello said that a Turkish diplomat talked to the family in Tora prison yesterday, who confirmed they were all safe and had been kept together.
“We will find out today what the attitudes of the authorities are towards the Halawas and we will be able to inform their father and sister back in Ireland,” Mr Costello said.
“It’s good news that the Turkish diplomat spoke to them as late as yesterday and it’s a relief to hear that they are in good form and that they have been kept together.
“That was a big concern, that they may have been separated. But we’ll find out the attitude of the authorities today and we’ll move from there.”
Their sister Nasaybi earlier expressed concerns for their safety,
