News

Italy Charges Four Members of Egyptian Security Force with Regeni Murder

Italy Charges Four Members of Egyptian Security Force with Regeni Murder

(From L to R) Paola Regeni, Senator Luigi Manconi, Claudio Regeni and lawyer Alessandra Ballerini hold a banner reading “Truth for Giulio Regeni”, the Italian student murdered in Egypt, during a news conference at the upper house of the parliament in Rome, Italy, March 29, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Italian prosecutors have charged Tarek Saber, Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, Uhsam Helmi, and Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif with the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Italian doctoral student Giulio Regeni. The men are set to be tried in absentia.

According to a statement released by the Italian news agency ANSA, the possible charges against the four men are ‘multi-aggravated abduction of a person, complicity in aggravated murder, and complicity in grievous bodily harm’.

According to a statement released by the Egyptian Public Prosecution, Italian prosecutors had initially found a connection between five individuals working as part of the security apparatus in Egypt, but that these individuals acted independently of any Egyptian governmental body or institution. Charges against the fifth suspect, Mahmoud Najm were dropped.

The suspects’ right to a defence is reserved, however as they did not submit to the process, Italian lawyers were assigned to their defence.

Investigations for the murder of the Italian doctorate student had lasted for at least four years, straining Egyptian and Italian diplomatic relations.

Earlier this month, the Egyptian Public Prosecution noted its appreciation of the Italian investigators and its understanding of their conclusions, but added that it has reservations concerning these conclusions. It said that the Italian conclusion lacked sufficient evidence, adding instead that its own investigations had revealed the involvement of a criminal gang.

The Egyptian Public Prosecution further asserts that the killer remains unknown and that it will continue to cooperate and exchange information with the Italians.

Regeni, a student at the University of Cambridge, went missing on January 25th, 2016. His body was found mutilated on February 3rd of the same year in a ditch on the Cairo-Alexandria highway. The doctoral student was reportedly conducting research on independent trade unions in Egypt.

In 2017, Regeni’s family appealed to Pope Francis to raise Regini’s case with Egypt’s once more. The case has sparked international attention on human rights violations in Egypt, particularly shifting the topic of surveillance from that of Egyptians to foreigners.

Fighting Hunger and Empowering Women: Meet Activist Menna Shahin
Egypt Receives First 50,000 Batch of Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine

Subscribe to our newsletter


More in News

Egypt’s Wrestling Federation Under Investigation Following Young Wrestler’s Escape to France

Shereif Barakat27 May 2023

Egypt Delaying Wheat Payments, but Supply Ongoing as Sellers “Trust” Authority

Omar Auf27 May 2023

Entertainment Activities in Egypt Facing New Tax Measures

Egyptian Streets25 May 2023

Egyptian Fashion Designer Sara Onsi Honored at Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit

Farah Sadek25 May 2023

Egypt Divided Over Silver-Medal Winning Wrestler Who Fled to France

Shereif Barakat24 May 2023

UN Allocates USD 5 Million to Sudanese Refugees Fleeing to Egypt

Marina Makary23 May 2023

Egypt and Oman Sign Deals to Foster Bilateral Cooperation, Strengthen Economic Ties

Farah Rafik23 May 2023

Spotify, Apple Music Face Criticism for Removing Mohammed Assaf’s Palestinian Hit

Shereif Barakat22 May 2023