An Italian court has sentenced three Egyptian security officials to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the kidnapping and torture of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in 2016. The court found Major Magdy Sharif from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, and Police Colonels Hisham Helmy and Asser Kamal, guilty of kidnapping Regeni, causing him serious physical harm. The three were ordered to pay compensation to Regeni's family and the Italian state.
The trial, which lasted over 10 years, has been a source of tension between Egypt and Italy. Regeni, a 28-year-old PhD student from Cambridge, was researching labor unions in Egypt when he disappeared on January 25, 2016. His body was found on February 3, 2016, with signs of torture and a broken neck. The Egyptian government initially provided various explanations for his death, including a car accident, but these were disputed by Italian investigators.
The Italian prosecution had requested life imprisonment for Sharif and 17 years and six months for the other three defendants. However, the court acquitted former National Security head Tarek Saber of the same charges. The court also dropped a charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder against Sharif. Alessandra Ballerini, a lawyer for Regeni's family, welcomed the verdict, saying it represented a "safety valve" for those seeking justice.
The verdict was hailed by human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Riccardo Nori, Amnesty International's Italian spokesperson, said the judgment marked a significant breakthrough in holding Egyptian authorities accountable for their actions. However, Nori noted that the court's decision did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the charge of murder.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the court's decision did not imply a condemnation of Egypt as a country. The Italian government has been working to strengthen ties with Egypt, including a recent visit to Cairo to sign cooperation agreements. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also visited Cairo in March 2024 to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union.
The Egyptian government has been keen to resolve the case, with a high-level contact between Egyptian and Italian officials taking place before the verdict. According to Egyptian law, there are two stages of appeal before the judgment becomes final. It is unlikely that the defendants will be extradited to Italy in the near future.
The Regeni case has had significant diplomatic repercussions between Egypt and Italy. In 2016, Italy recalled its ambassador to Egypt after the two countries failed to reach an agreement on the investigation. However, relations have since improved, with Italy resuming its ambassador to Egypt in 2017 and the two countries cooperating on energy, migration, and trade issues.
Key points
- The Italian court sentenced three Egyptian security officials to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the kidnapping and torture of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni.
- The verdict marked a significant breakthrough in holding Egyptian authorities accountable for their actions.
- The case has had significant diplomatic repercussions between Egypt and Italy, but relations have since improved.
