Researcher, human-rights activist
and Bologna University alumnus Patrick Zaki was released by the
Egyptian authorities on Thursday after being granted a pardon by
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday.
The first thing he did after his release was to embrace his
mother Hala, his girlfriend Reny Iskander, his sister Marise and
his father George, an ANSA reporter on the scene was able to
see.
"Now that I'm free, I'm thinking of retuning to Italy as soon as
possible," Zaki said.
"Let's hope that it happens soon.
"I'm thinking of returning to Bologna to be with my university
colleagues".
The presidential pardon was the result of a "long and constant
negotiation" between the Italian and Egyptian governments,
sources said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday a Mansoura court had sentenced Zaki to three years in
prison for allegedly spreading fake news, sparking widespread
dismay in Italy, where his cases has been a big issue.
Following the ruling, the 22-year-old researcher faced a further
14 months in jail having already spent 22 months in pre-trial
detention following his arrest at Cairo airport February 2020
while returning to Egypt from Italy to visit family on separate
charges of subversive propaganda connected to some Facebook
posts.
Zaki was released from custody in December 2021 but subsequently
put on trial for allegedly spreading fake news in relation to
three articles on Coptic Christians in Egypt, and he was banned
from leaving the country.
"I want to thank President Al Sisi for this very important
gesture," Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a video message on
Wednesday.
"Ever since our first meeting last November, I have never
stopped raising the issue, and I have always found him to be
attentive and helpful.
"And I want to thank the intelligence (services) and diplomats,
both Italian and Egyptian, who in recent months have never
stopped working to achieve the desired solution," she added.
It had been hoped that Zaki would be able to come to Italy on
Thursday but the return may not be actually be possible until
the weekend due to the necessary bureaucratic procedures,
sources said,
Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani said Zaki had
gone to the Italian embassy in Cairo after his release.
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.
Tajani on Thursday dismissed speculation that Italy had agreed
to let up on pressure to bring the killers of Giulio Regeni to
justice in exchange for Zaki's pardon.
"There was no bartering, no under-the-table negotiations,"
Tajani told Radio 24. "The government has managed to bring back
a young researcher, who risked spending more time in prison, to
Italy.
"We are serious people, we do not barter like this.
"We will continue to ask for light to be shed on the (Regeni)
case as we have always done".
Regeni, a 28-year-old Friuli born Cambridge University doctoral
researcher, was tortured to death in Egypt between January 25
and February 3 2016.
Four Egyptian security agents have been charged in Italy with
his murder.
The Egyptian authorities have not cooperated with Italian
efforts to formally notify the suspects that they are on trial,
which has prevented proceedings moving forward.
In May a Rome judge asked Italy's Constitutional Court to rule
on whether the trial can proceed without the agents and without
any proof that they know they are on trial.
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