Italian uni deans 'worried' about Zaky

(ANSA) - Rome, February 13 - The conference of Italian university deans (CRUI) on Thursday expressed concern about the plight of Patrick George Zaky, a Bologna university student and rights activist who has allegedly been tortured after being arrested in his homeland Egypt. The conference said it "registers with concern" the news of the arrest of Zaky, saying he was a fully fledged "member of the Italian and European university community". CRUI said it "strongly expresses the hope that Patrick George Zaky can soon return to dialogue with his colleagues and teachers and can complete his studies". The parents of Giulio Regeni, the Italian Cambridge doctoral student tortured to death in Cairo four years ago, on Wednesday urged "democratic governments" to protect Zaky.
    "We are following with attention and concern the arrest in Cairo of the Egyptian student George Zaky," said Paola and Claudio Regeni, and their lawyer Alessandra Ballerini, in a statement. "Patrick, like Giulio, is a brilliant international student and holds dear people's inviolable rights. "Democratic governments should preserve and cultivate the growth of these committed and studious young people of ours and should protect their safety in all areas".