Bologna university demands release of student held in Cairo

The University of Bologna academic senate, students, the European Parliament president and Amnesty International have called for the release of Patrick George Zaki, an Egyptian student studying on a European Union scholarship at the University of Bologna in Italy, who has been detained in Cairo by government authorities since 7 February.

In Egypt Zaki works as a researcher specialising in gender at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, an organisation working to strengthen and protect basic rights and freedoms. He is currently pursuing a masters in gender studies at the University of Bologna in northern Italy.

Zaki won a European Union-funded scholarship to participate in the prestigious international GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in Women's and Gender Studies. He started his studies at the University of Bologna last September.

Samuel Tharwat, his lawyer, told Amnesty International that on his arrest on arrival in Cairo, National Security Agency (NSA) officers kept him blindfolded and handcuffed throughout a 17 hour-interrogation at the airport and then at an undisclosed NSA location in Mansoura. He was questioned about his human rights work and the purpose of his residence in Italy. During interrogation, he was frequently threatened, beaten on his stomach and back and tortured with electric shocks.

Accusations of spreading false news, incitement

News reports say Zaki faces accusations of spreading false news and statements to distort social peace, inciting people to protest without obtaining a permit. He is blamed for seeking to overthrow the regime of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi through incitement and promoting principles and thoughts that lead to a change in the basic principles of the constitution.

Zaki’s hearing in Egypt is scheduled for 22 February.

Amnesty International called on the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Zaki, who was detained for his human rights work and opinions he has expressed on social media, they said.

“They must open an independent investigation into the torture he has suffered and urgently ensure his protection,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa, in a statement.

“The authorities’ arbitrary arrest and torture of Patrick Zaki is yet another example of the state’s deep-rooted repression of perceived opponents and human rights’ defenders, which reaches more audacious levels with each passing day.”

David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, also called on Egyptian authorities to release Zaki.

"I want to remind the Egyptian authorities that EU relations with third countries rely on respect for human and civil rights, as confirmed by many resolutions approved by the European Parliament,” he said.

University takes action

On learning of Zaki’s arrest, Deputy Rector of the University of Bologna, Mirko Degli Esposti, established a crisis group to work with government authorities, including the universities minister and the Italian embassy in Cairo. Esposti said the University of Bologna was following developments with great interest and hopes that the issue is quickly resolved with a positive outcome.

He said all the testimonies of teachers and students who know Zaki show a portrait very different from what the Egyptian authorities seem to indicate.

“The university hopes that Patrick will be able to return to Bologna as soon as possible to resume his studies in the second semester and then continue on his path next year as he had planned.”

In an extraordinary meeting on 12 February, university senate members said as members of the scientific and academic community of the University of Bologna, they were deeply affected and disturbed by the news of the arrest of a member of their university community and requested that representatives of the Italian government and European Commission follow the case to ensure Zaki's rights are not violated.

“Strengthened by the values that distinguish the academic community at all levels, such as freedom of thought, the importance of critical thinking, responsibility and social commitment, we reiterate the need to defend, in every location, and with every tool, the human rights and more particularly the right to individual freedom, political rights and the protection of freedom of expression,” the senate said in a statement.

The student council at Bologna has organised a solidarity procession for Zaki on campus on 17 and 18 February.