Italy to hold Egypt responsible for student’s murder

Italian investigations into the death of 28-year-old PhD student Giulio Regeni are likely to reveal that he was killed by the Egyptian authorities because he was conduction research in the country and contacting opposition member, Rassd.com reported Italian media saying yesterday.

Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper revealed the Public Prosecution has ruled out all the explanations Egypt has given following the student’s death. It went on to say that the only suspects now were the Egyptian authorities, especially because Regeni’s autopsy revealed that he was tortured by people who are believed to be experienced.

The Egyptian interior ministry has said that its investigation hints to “criminal” activity or “personal” revenge as the reasons behind the killing.

The ministry has previously issued a statement saying that Regeni had a wide network in Egypt despite the limited time he spent there.

The Italian embassy has refused to comment on any of the Egyptian remarks noting that it would wait until the Italian investigators in Cairo finish their investigations.

Regeni disappeared from Cairo on 25 January. His body was later found on 3 February. The initial autopsy showed that he died from a strong blow below the skull; he also had marks in other parts of his body to indicate he had been tortured.

Italian has called on Egypt to hold those responsible accountable.