Egypt is committed to investigating torture

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/11/egypt-is-committed-to-investigating-torture

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While understanding the deep shock and sadness at the murder of the Italian PhD student Giulio Regeni, it was premature and short-sighted of the academics who wrote to you (Letters, 9 February) to prejudge the results of the official criminal investigation.

In this respect, I would underscore the fact that Egypt is committed to a comprehensive and impartial investigation, in full cooperation with the Italian authorities, and prejudging the investigation is in nobody’s interest, least of all the victim and his family. Attempts to accuse the Egyptian authorities, in the absence of evidence, are counter-productive. It is surprising that such unfounded assumptions could emanate from academics, who should be the first to adhere to standards of impartiality, rigour and professionalism.

The statements made in the letter regarding arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearances completely distorted the situation on the ground, and constitute generalisations based on hearsay and intentional distortions by those striving to regain a foothold in Egypt after being rejected by the people. The National Council for Human Rights has stated in a series of reports that the majority of purported cases of disappearances have been unfounded after investigation and that authorities are fully cooperating with the NCHR to review any alleged cases.

Egypt’s leadership, at its highest level, has publicly committed to holding individual perpetrators of torture to account, and the current period is witnessing a number of important prosecutions of such cases. Egypt does not accept leniency for cases of torture, which remain isolated incidents that are being firmly confronted. In fact, Egypt’s constitution establishes it as a crime with no statute of limitations.

I extend my condolences to Mr Regeni’s family and loved ones and assure them that what happened to Mr Regeni is as unacceptable to the people of Egypt as it is to all those who knew and loved him. Ahmed Abu ZeidOfficial spokesperson, Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs