Egyptian researcher, human-rights
activist and Bologna University alumnus Patrick Zaki is due to
fly from Cairo to Milan Malpensa on Saturday on a scheduled
flight with an Egyptian airline, sources told ANSA on Friday.
Zaki has reportedly refused the special flight that had been
made available by the Italian government and does not intend to
meet or be assisted by authorities from Rome, the sources added.
Earlier the researcher who was released on Thursday after
receiving a presidential pardon on Wednesday announced on social
media that he would be in his university city of Bologna on
Saturday morning to "crown the long-awaited dream" .
"The best feeling is freedom," he added on Twitter.
Earlier this month Zaki obtained a masters degree in women's and
gender studies from Bologna University with the maximum grade
of 110 with distinction, defending his thesis via video link
after the authorities in his homeland refused permission for him
to present it in person.
He was on trial in Egypt on charges of allegedly spreading fake
news in relation to an article on Coptic Christians, and on
Tuesday he was handed a three-year prison sentence which was
subsequently overturned with a pardon from the Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.
"I am relieved about what has happened, I have many plans that I
am trying to fulfil, including getting married and continuing my
doctorate," Zaki told the opposition website 'Mada Masr'.
"I hope that everyone will be released and that the issue of
political prisoners will be resolved entirely," he added.
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