Rights groups have issued a joint statement calling on the Italian authorities to take a firm stand on Giulio Regeni’s case, expressing concern over recent developments.
The Egyptian Front for Human Rights and the Egyptian Platform for Human Rights called on the Italian executive authorities to take a more firm stance on the case by suspending police cooperation programs with Egypt.
An Italian court held a session on February 13 to try Major General Saber Tariq, Colonels Asser Kamel Ibrahim and Hisham Helmy, and Major Majdi Sharif. They face charges of kidnapping, torture and murder. Also, the court decided to summon Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to testify in light of their recent claims that Egypt would cooperate in the case.
The rights groups criticized the Egyptian Public Prosecution, which they described as an extension of the Egyptian authorities’ continuous and systematic performance that, over seven years, has refused to conduct a transparent investigation and has impeded cooperation with Italian judicial authorities. They also called on the Egyptian government to respect its international obligations and take serious legislative steps to criminalize all forms of torture.
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